The map
Fibre routes, Alberta SuperNet, internet exchanges and border crossings. Zoom to southern Alberta for the town maps; each community page adds speeds and government data.
This browser can't draw the interactive map (it needs WebGL). Everything on it is in the list below.
Everything on the map
The same entries as a plain list, so it works without the map. Each one says how sure we are and where it comes from. Something wrong or missing? The About page explains how to send a correction.
Internet exchanges
-
Montréal Internet Exchange (QIX) reported
Montréal's internet exchange. The old qix.ca address now redirects to CANIX, which lists Montréal among its operating exchange locations.
-
TorIX documented
Toronto's internet exchange, which describes itself as Canada's largest.
-
VANIX documented
Vancouver's not-for-profit internet exchange, with multiple locations in the Vancouver region.
-
WPGIX documented
Winnipeg Internet Exchange, a small exchange for local Manitoba traffic.
-
YEGIX documented
Edmonton's internet exchange, where networks peer over an ethernet switch using BGP.
-
YYCIX documented
Calgary's open-access internet exchange, built by volunteers, with peering switches in several Calgary data centres.
Idea under research
-
Idea under research: a Medicine Hat internet exchange inferred
An idea under research, not a plan: a Medicine Hat internet exchange. It needs viability research. The Internet Society's IXP tracker lists no exchange in southern Alberta outside Calgary, and none along the Trans-Canada corridor between Calgary and Regina; the nearest listed exchange to the east is in Saskatoon.
Fibre routes
-
Calgary to Brooks to Medicine Hat fibre documented approximate path
Bell's network map shows a major Bell fibre route between Calgary and Medicine Hat. The Alberta SuperNet map (Service Alberta, 2005/06, in Cybera's 2021 report) shows fibre on the same corridor through Brooks, along the Trans-Canada (Highway 1). In our view TELUS and Rogers (formerly Shaw) may have their own fibre here too. Drawn along the highway; the real path is not known.
-
Calgary to Fort Macleod to Lethbridge fibre (Bell) documented approximate path
Bell's network map shows a major Bell fibre route between Calgary and Lethbridge. The Alberta SuperNet map (Service Alberta, 2005/06, in Cybera's 2021 report) shows fibre from Calgary down Highway 2 to Fort Macleod, then east to Lethbridge. Drawn along the highway; the real path is not known.
-
Calgary to Kamloops fibre (Bell) documented approximate path
Bell's network map shows a major Bell fibre route west from Calgary to Kamloops, and on to Vancouver. Bell's map is a schematic, so we draw the line along the Trans-Canada Highway; the real path is not shown.
-
Medicine Hat to Swift Current to Regina fibre documented approximate path
Bell's network map shows a major Bell fibre route east from Medicine Hat to Regina, and on to Winnipeg. In our view it runs through Swift Current along the Trans-Canada (Highway 1). Drawn along the highway; the real path is not known.
Alberta SuperNet
-
Alberta SuperNet base network fibre reported approximate path
The SuperNet's base network, fibre linking 27 larger centres, including Calgary, Brooks, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. Bell built and owns it. SuperNet carries traffic for public buildings; it was never fibre to homes. Traced from Service Alberta's SuperNet map (2005/06, in Cybera's 2021 report); some paths have changed since.
-
Alberta SuperNet extended area fibre reported approximate path
The SuperNet's extended area network, fibre to about 400 smaller communities, which the province paid $193 million to build. Bell has run all of SuperNet since 2018. It reaches the Montana border at Coutts. Traced from Service Alberta's SuperNet map (2005/06, in Cybera's 2021 report); wireless links are left out, and some paths have changed since.
Local fibre networks
-
Medicine Hat municipal fibre inferred
The City of Medicine Hat owns an extensive fibre optic network that supports its city-wide utility infrastructure and extensive municipal property locations.
-
Taber municipal fibre inferred
The Town of Taber owns its own fibre network, connecting nearly all of its major town-owned facilities. For homes and businesses, the town partnered with TELUS for fibre (Alberta Broadband Toolkit, 2023).
Infrastructure in southern Alberta
-
Brooks municipal fibre backbone reported
The City of Brooks put about $5.4 million into the fibre backbone (the feeder network), which it owns. Crown Capital funded and owns the $15 million distribution network to homes and businesses, Community Network Partners operates it, and O-Net was to be the first internet provider before the network opens to other providers (Alberta Broadband Toolkit, 2023). 2022 news reports say the city's share came from a Canada Community Building Fund grant.
-
Hut 8 Medicine Hat site documented
Hut 8 lists a site in Medicine Hat on its own website. It is a private data centre, not network infrastructure.
-
Lethbridge city fibre in industrial parks reported
Lethbridge used a grant to fund a high-speed fibre network through the Sherring and Churchill industrial parks. Construction was scheduled for 2021; completion has not yet been confirmed.
-
Medicine Hat municipal electric and gas utilities documented
The City of Medicine Hat owns and operates its own gas and electric utilities.
Sources
- Brooks municipal fibre backbone (doi.org)
- Lethbridge city fibre in industrial parks (lethbridgenewsnow.com)
- Medicine Hat municipal electric and gas utilities (medicinehat.ca)
- Hut 8 Medicine Hat site (hut8.com)
- YYCIX (yycix.ca)
- YEGIX (yegix.ca)
- TorIX (torix.ca)
- VANIX (vanix.ca)
- WPGIX (wpgix.ca)
- Montréal Internet Exchange (QIX) (canix.ca)
- Idea under research: a Medicine Hat internet exchange (pulse.internetsociety.org)
- Calgary to Kamloops fibre (Bell) (wholesale.bell.ca)
- Alberta SuperNet base network fibre (wiki.cybera.ca)
- Basemap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, via Protomaps