Broadband Strategy Prepares for a ‘Future-Ready’ Stony Plain

The Town of Stony Plain is excited to announce the municipality’s Broadband Strategy Final Report has been published.

The Broadband Strategy aims to addresses infrastructure gaps and provide guidance for future-ready development in Stony Plain. The project was first approved in the 2022-2024 Corporate Plan and identified as a key action in the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, with work undertaken in 2022 and 2023 to engage residents and stakeholders. The report includes an in-depth overview of the current state of internet quality and accessibility, as well as strategic options for future broadband development.

“Having access to reliable high-speed internet is critical for economic sustainability in today’s digital world. The Broadband Strategy identifies infrastructure gaps and opportunities, ensuring Stony Plain is prepared to address both current and future needs. The report is our roadmap to a future state that is ready to respond to and engage with technological advancements,” says Mayor William Choy.

An online survey combined with an internet speed test was used to gather feedback from the community and identify infrastructure gaps and areas in need of enhancements. Findings from the speed testing show that while Stony Plain’s infrastructure supports high-speed internet in 90 percent of subdivisions, many residents and businesses are not subscribing to the highest quality internet available.

 “The report findings provide us with a deeper understanding of how residents and businesses are accessing internet services. Having this information available to us allows for informed planning and development that will adequately address gaps while preparing for a future of growth,” says Economic Development Officer Michelle Levasseur. “An interesting trend we discovered was that many residents and businesses were unaware of the internet speed they were receiving. The internet speed test is an excellent resource on our website that can be used by community members to better understand their internet quality and usage.”  

Work on the Broadband Strategy will continue throughout 2023. The Final Report and the internet speed test can be accessed on the Stony Plain website.