Management Services

We all know that Atlantic Canada is a beautiful place that is steeped in history. We have our main industries that have been around for as long as most people can remember. So where does the Internet fit in our world of Lumber, Potatoes and Fish? Pretty perfectly actually.

The Internet is the great equalizer when it comes to accessing information. Whether you are in New York City, London, Sydney or right here in Atlantic Canada, you will be able to access the same type of information through the internet.

In fact in Canada we are better off then many places in the world. The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) pulls together stats every year to show the state of Internet in Canada, including where we rank in the world. According to their research, currently Canada ranks 2nd among it’s G8 partners for internet penetration. How does Atlantic Canada stack up? In 2012 the percentage of households with internet access looked like this: Newfoundland and Labrador 79%, Prince Edward Island 78%, Nova Scotia 80%, New Brunswick 77%.

The biggest impact to these percentages is they tend to be higher in urban areas, lower in rural and also vary in the same way by socio-economic levels. The good news is there is awareness of these differences at the government level and initiatives like this one in New Brunswick started in 2010 to improve access to high speed internet through providers that use satellite internet to rural areas. From another side of the equation keep in mind that every library in New Brunswick will give you free Wi-Fi access and even free access to a computer with internet if you need it.

Lastly, don’t forget the impact that smartphone and mobile internet is having on our access. Canada wide it is estimated that 49% of internet usage is accessed from a mobile device.

So why does Internet access matter? By being a connected area it not only allows us to grow our tech community, but fold in internet technology like social media and digital marketing in to our every day lives and businesses. Technology doesn’t have to eliminate the culture, history or industries we currently have, but it can help us to find more innovative ways to complete tasks. So take a few minutes today and think about all the things you do on a daily basis that are helped by having internet access. Now think about all the things you wish there was a way to do in a more innovative way. Chances are you may be able to find a full or partial solution to solving those every day problems by opening up to the possibilities that technology like the internet can bring.