Nova Scotia will become a world leader in information technology. The province's goal is to make Nova Scotia the most connected jurisdiction in North America.

The Nova Scotia government is embarking on a bold vision to ensure that by the end of 2009, every Nova Scotian will have broadband access to the Internet. In many cases, that broadband access will be achieved through wireless connectivity.

Access to broadband service is as important today as paved roads, electricity and telephones were in the past. We need it to communicate, to access information, and to conduct business. The goal is to make Nova Scotia the most connected area in all of North America.

Broadband access has become critical infrastructure needed to communicate, access information, and conduct trade. Broadband access is seen as critical to the sustainability and growth of our economy and quality of life.

Generally speaking, the world of business and information is "online". Whether you are a business or a customer of a business, you are increasingly expected to access, communicate, and do business online.

Further, the online world expects that you are connected to at least a broadband connection. Online information increasingly includes rich graphics, large file transfers, and various business forms, that can only be accessed while literally "online". Accessing this information is becoming unfeasible via traditional telephone dial-up connections.

Currently 78% of Nova Scotia's population is served with broadband connectivity. However, approximately 200,000 Nova Scotians, 93,500 households, over 5,600 businesses, and thousands of tourists and summer residents do not have broadband Internet connectivity.

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Note: For further information visit Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia .