Canada declares high-speed internet necessary for citizens’ quality of life

Canada has made a declaration on what is very much obvious by now yet is still overlooked by most governments. Image from INQUIRER.net

The modern way of life would not be possible without internet access. As such, Canada has deemed high-speed internet access to be essential for the quality of life of human beings.

As a matter of fact, the Canadian government has just supported an investment package of up to $750 million to build the necessary infrastructure in its rural areas, reports The Verge.

“The future of our economy, our prosperity and our society — indeed, the future of every citizen — requires us to set ambitious goals, and to get on with connecting all Canadians for the 21st century,” said CRCT chair Jean-Pierre Blais at a news conference.

Canada’s national telecoms regulator, CRCT, have laid down goals to bring this basic service to citizens. For fixed broadband, citizens need to have at least 50 megabits per second for download and upload plus unlimited data. For mobile access, there are less ambitious goals that will simply focus on giving “access to the latest mobile wireless technology.”

It is estimated by CRCT that 90 percent of Canadians will have access to new speeds by 2021. As it stands, 18 percent of Canada’s population do not have access to their desired speeds.

Finally, CRCT is mandating wireless service providers to offer platforms for customers with speech and hearing disabilities within the next six months. Alfred Bayle