Map showing coverage area planned by NetSet

NetSet Communications of Brandon is excited about its plan to bring expanded high speed internet service to rural and remote regions of Manitoba. It was announced in last week that NetSet had won a bid for federal funding to provide this service. Robbie Zetariuk is the spokesperson for NetSet. She says they have an ambitious construction program planned for the next two years, including 17 new towers in southwest Manitoba.

"Our goal is that we will have, before July 1st, 2017, over 60 additional towers, 250 foot high towers I might add, throughout the Province of Manitoba. We have very,very strong plans for expansion in the southeast corner of the province, most certainly due to the demand that we've heard from potential customers from both the residential and the business world. To give you an exact number, probably close to 16 towers just in the southeast corner of the province."

Zetariuk says each tower covers a circular pattern of up to 40 kilometres. She adds NetSet intends to have overlap so there are always a minimum of three towers that can be connected to any individual home. She notes the program specifies that service is to be provided to rural and remote areas.

"We want to be able to provide services to the more remote sections too. And, because of the technology that we have, with having the fully licensed spectrum, we're able to provide a very safe and reliable, interference-free, connection."

Zetariuk adds NetSet will be rolling out LTE service to offer better speeds which will enable them to offer voice-over-internet telephone service as well. She says the company also has a good relationship with telephone companies and will offer them the opportunity to install cell phone equipment on NetSet's new towers in the southeast.