b'TECHNOLOGYNarrowing theBy Gavin JohnCONNECTIVITY GAPr e m o I n A l b e r t a , 1 8I t is estimated that over 10 million Canadians do not have access to broadband internet, while even more have download speeds of less than 50 megabits t e I n d i g e n o u sper second (Mbps). Many of these underserved communities are Indigenous. These statistics put into perspective the challenge of connecting Indigenous c o m m u n i t i e s w i l lcommunities to reliable high-speed internet that is on par with the rest of Canada. They also serve as a solemn reminder that reconciliation is still a long f i n a l l y h a v e a c c e s sways off.t o h i g h - s p e e dThis year, however, change is on the horizon for 18 Indigenous communities and over 3,000 households in Alberta, thanks to a $10-million partnership between i n t e r n e t t h a n k sArrow Technology Group and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to build new t o a $ 10 - m i l l i o nbroadband infrastructure in these communities. p a r t n e r s h i p t h a tFor years, internet access has traditionally been provided through copper telephone wires or coaxial cable cords from cable TV companies. As bandwidth usage and a i m s t o m a k espeeds required for daily life have grown, these legacy infrastructures are showing their age. Signals travelling through metal lines have limitations in terms of how far a d i f f e r e n c e they can travel and how strong they are when they reach their destination. 36A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'