Small cell technology coming to Aurora smartphone users

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 16, 2016
By Teresa Latchford

Smartphone users may soon notice a boost in service speed in Aurora due to a new pilot project.

Aurora is the first municipality in York Region to partner with Bell Canada for a small cell technology pilot project to improve broadband connectivity. The project involves placing small cell antenna systems, about the size of a laptop, on or in buildings and on telephone poles to support the existing service network.

“Bell was looking to meet demand in Aurora that is being driven by the increased use of smartphones, more specifically data usage which uses more broadband capacity than voice use,” Aurora’s manager of long range and strategic planning, Anthony Ierullo said. “These receptors have a direct link to fiber (a high-speed network of cables allowing people to access the internet and acquire or send data), meaning they will be able to move data at tremendous speed.”

With the demand for data usage expected to double every year and Aurora expecting to add to that demand due to a population increase, this new technology is a step in the right direction, he said.

The primary users who will benefit from the pilot will be Bell and Telus clients but there are agreements in place that will allow clients of other service providers to access the network if there is a gap in their own service networks, he added.

To start, 10 locations have been selected to test the small cells, also known as micro cells, including town hall, Aurora Public Library, Lambert Willson Park and local recreation centres. The rest will be installed in the cultural district and along the Yonge Street promenade.

 Installation could begin as early as this fall.

“Part of Bell’s plan is to move away from traditional cell towers that have caused concern in the community in the past,” Ierullo said.

Small cells operate with lower transmit power compared to cell towers, meaning lower radio-frequency exposure, well below what Health Canada deems safe. Exposure was the main concern voiced by residents when the town was considering the approval of cell tower installations on Bloomington Road just east of Bayview Avenue last year and south of the Wellington and Bathurst streets intersection in 2013.

Another perk of the technology is one cell can be shut down for maintenance without disrupting the entire network.

The cells will mean no land will be required for new towers but the town will still have the authority to review and access proposed installation sites.

The town will also generate revenue through the agreement as Bell will pay a one-time application fee of $500 to cover the cost of reviewing the proposed installation sites and a fee of $750 per year, per location.

“Broadband and wireless connectivity are key drivers for economic development…there are many examples of communities that have experienced major economic benefits from being early adopters of smart technology,” the staff report states. “As York Region considers pursuing a Smart City designation, a project like this can only help better position Aurora as a leader.”

York Region’s broadband task force has identified small cell technology as one of the options that would help fulfil the region’s broadband strategy. Being more connected and being able to offer high- speed, high-capacity digital networks would make the region and local municipalities more attractive for businesses, education institutions and aid other sectors like technology and health care.