Has the Internet become a Utility, Rather than a Luxury?
By: Darren Chu and Deanna McArthur
The internet is a critical component of our social infrastructure. We rely on it for almost everything, from social media and entertainment to news reporting and communication. We rely on it so much that in 2016, the CRTC declared broadband internet a “basic service”, calling internet service “vital and essential to life and success”. The goal of the CRTC’s decision is to work towards improving Canada’s broadband internet infrastructure to better support not only urban regions, but rural and isolated areas as well.
Over the past few weeks, we have all watched as COVID-19 has spread around the globe to become a World Health Organization-recognized pandemic. That declaration triggered border and school closures, bans on gatherings of all sizes, and mass travel restrictions. Most recently, Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency, meaning even more aggressive social distancing measures being implemented.
With social distancing as the new norm for human interactions, it has become very apparent that the internet will be a key tool in the fight against infection.
We aren’t talking about binge watching Love is Blind on Netflix, or gaming online with your friends (although things like these will help to pass the time if you are self-quarantined), we are talking about the ability to stay connected with what is happening in the news and at work.
Unfortunately, many businesses in Alberta and around the world, will have to suspend operations while we fight to contain the spread of the virus. Those without the option of moving to a virtual structure will feel the pain of lost revenues.
Many businesses who are fortunate enough to have the option, are now implementing work-from-home policies that allow staff to continue with their employee responsibilities while maintaining social distancing. Such work-from-home policies only function as a result of widespread internet connectivity, and require that employees who are able to work from home have adequate internet access to do so.
As I sit in my living room, writing this blog at my foldable Costco table which I will be calling a home office for the foreseeable future, I personally see an Internet connection as a necessity.
We were fortunate that UTILITYnet, the parent company to Q Wave, has invested in technology and solutions that have given us the flexibility, in situations like this, to work remotely, without seeing any disruption in our operations.
The results of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Internet Use Survey, released in 2019, show that 94% of all Canadians have home internet access. Of those who don’t have home internet access, reasons included cost and unavailability of services.
According to the survey, “30% of employed Canadian internet users reported that their employer expected them to use the internet to stay connected outside of their regular work hours” thereby reinforcing the idea that the internet is a utility, not a luxury.
In an article published by FastCompany.com, the author lists several strategies for assisting staff with the transition from a workplace environment to a home-based environment. One such strategy is the implementation of a “virtual water cooler” where employees can continue their usual interactions, albeit in a virtual setting. How companies achieve this will vary, but in essence Slack, hangouts, and video conferencing all serve the same purpose. The underlying common thread, of course, is the internet.
Here in Alberta, the incumbent local exchange carriers, Shaw and Telus, have responded to the COVID-19 crisis in a number of ways. Access to the CBC News network has been granted to all users so that customers can stay informed on the latest updates. Although Shaw does not have usage limits on their internet plans, Telus has removed overage charges for users who are not signed up for unlimited data plans. These changes also fall in line with typical utility providers, who only charge based on consumption.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has drastically changed the way we maintain societal norms in the midst of a worldwide crisis. It would not be surprising if, after this is all over, businesses and governments alike develop and implement more robust work-from-home policies to mitigate future events such as this one.
The question we need to be asking ourselves is how can we ensure that everyone has adequate affordable internet access in the event they, again, are asked to work remotely?
Over the past few weeks, we have all watched as COVID-19 has spread around the globe to become a World Health Organization-recognized pandemic. That declaration triggered border and school closures, bans on gatherings of all sizes, and mass travel restrictions. Most recently, Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency, meaning even more aggressive social distancing measures being implemented.
With social distancing as the new norm for human interactions, it has become very apparent that the internet will be a key tool in the fight against infection.
We aren’t talking about binge watching Love is Blind on Netflix, or gaming online with your friends (although things like these will help to pass the time if you are self-quarantined), we are talking about the ability to stay connected with what is happening in the news and at work.
Unfortunately, many businesses in Alberta and around the world, will have to suspend operations while we fight to contain the spread of the virus. Those without the option of moving to a virtual structure will feel the pain of lost revenues.
Many businesses who are fortunate enough to have the option, are now implementing work-from-home policies that allow staff to continue with their employee responsibilities while maintaining social distancing. Such work-from-home policies only function as a result of widespread internet connectivity, and require that employees who are able to work from home have adequate internet access to do so.
As I sit in my living room, writing this blog at my foldable Costco table which I will be calling a home office for the foreseeable future, I personally see an Internet connection as a necessity.
We were fortunate that UTILITYnet, the parent company to Q Wave, has invested in technology and solutions that have given us the flexibility, in situations like this, to work remotely, without seeing any disruption in our operations.
The results of Statistics Canada’s Canadian Internet Use Survey, released in 2019, show that 94% of all Canadians have home internet access. Of those who don’t have home internet access, reasons included cost and unavailability of services.
According to the survey, “30% of employed Canadian internet users reported that their employer expected them to use the internet to stay connected outside of their regular work hours” thereby reinforcing the idea that the internet is a utility, not a luxury.
In an article published by FastCompany.com, the author lists several strategies for assisting staff with the transition from a workplace environment to a home-based environment. One such strategy is the implementation of a “virtual water cooler” where employees can continue their usual interactions, albeit in a virtual setting. How companies achieve this will vary, but in essence Slack, hangouts, and video conferencing all serve the same purpose. The underlying common thread, of course, is the internet.
Here in Alberta, the incumbent local exchange carriers, Shaw and Telus, have responded to the COVID-19 crisis in a number of ways. Access to the CBC News network has been granted to all users so that customers can stay informed on the latest updates. Although Shaw does not have usage limits on their internet plans, Telus has removed overage charges for users who are not signed up for unlimited data plans. These changes also fall in line with typical utility providers, who only charge based on consumption.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has drastically changed the way we maintain societal norms in the midst of a worldwide crisis. It would not be surprising if, after this is all over, businesses and governments alike develop and implement more robust work-from-home policies to mitigate future events such as this one.
The question we need to be asking ourselves is how can we ensure that everyone has adequate affordable internet access in the event they, again, are asked to work remotely?