Internet: City becomes third N.B. location to inaugurate 'iBurst' technology

A5

Paul Chapman
For the Telegraph-Journal

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BATHURST - Bathurst has become the third city in New Brunswick to launch the unique "iBurst" wireless technology provided by the New Brunswick mobile broadband company, Red Ball Internet.

The company already offers cutting-edge mobile broadband solutions to corporate and government clients in Moncton and Fredericton and, as of this week, Bathurst will have access to one of the most advanced mobile broadband systems in the world.

Approximately 100 people gathered at City Hall to mark the launch this week.

"The partnership we've developed with Red Ball Internet will make our city more competitive and attractive to future business owners," Bathurst Mayor Stephen Brunet said.

Sean Adams of Red Ball said Bathurst was the next logical step for their business.

"We go around the province talking to municipalities and gauging their interests and gauging the area's potential for success," he said.

"In Bathurst, we had the people who were most cooperative, we had the most initial support and we definitely saw an opportunity, but of course we wouldn't have come if the city hadn't agreed to partner with us."

While the technology provides services to business and government, it will initially provide four services to the city: remote monitoring for some of the municipal water systems, several Wi-Fi "hotspots" for public access to the Internet, secure mobile wireless video camera's, and GPS tracking of all city vehicles.

"We are going to be using the latest technologies with our fleet" Brunet said.

"We have a large geographical area, and a small population and a smaller workforce than the larger municipalities and this will help us work smarter and provide a higher level of security and safety for our employees."

The city also has 30 wireless video cameras that the technology will enable.

"We can put them in area's where we may want to watch." Brunet said.

"For example, parks where there is vandalism, or certain parts of town we want to monitor. The police can't be everywhere, so we use technology."

Now that the technology is in place, there are private sector opportunities, Brunet said.

For example, he said that in Moncton, a car dealership has installed a tracking device on every car it sells. Car owners can track the movement of their car in real time on the Internet, and even send an email if the car exceeds a certain speed.

"They have got this system set up in Moncton and Fredericton," Brunet said.

"We're going to right there with two of the top cities in New Brunswick, as we should, because we are center of northern New Brunswick, and as the center, we have to be the leader."

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