Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative
Where We Are
Projects are currently underway that will deliver reliable, high-speed Internet access to 99.99%* of homes and businesses across the province. We believe Nova Scotia will be among the first provinces in Canada to reach this level of coverage.
To date, approximately 101,000 homes and businesses have access to high-speed internet through the project. This is approximately 99% coverage with access to connections continuing and close to 99.9% with the satellite rebate option.
Approximately 103,000 homes and businesses were identified as underserved when the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative project started. This means approximately 75% had access at that time.
In November, 2022, the Satellite Internet Service Rebate Program expanded to additional homes and businesses that currently don’t have access to high-speed internet. This includes those in a current project area, not yet complete. The rebate, which continues into 2024, will cover the one-time costs for eligible homes and businesses to set-up satellite internet, including hardware, taxes, shipping and installation, up to a maximum of $1,000.
The rebate also remains available to the approximate 3,700 homes and businesses for which no feasible wired or wireless internet solution has been found as well as addresses previously identified as not receiving high-speed access until after the end of 2023.
To date, the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust has approved a total of $184.9M, leveraging an additional $189.7M from other funders, including $138.8M from the private sector. The Province invested an additional $8.5M for the satellite rebate program, through the Trust.
All projects approved to date for funding by the Trust provide at least target speeds required by the CRTC (50 Mbps down/10 Mbps up for wired, 25 Mbps down/5 Mbps up for wireless, with a demonstrated plan to reach 50 Mbps). Many are greatly exceeding these speeds.
*Assumes completion of Pictou County’s independent project. Reflects knowledge there may be some premises that cannot be reached overall.
While many projects are complete or substantially complete, the completion of some project areas has shifted into 2024. Visit our FAQ page for more information.
We continue to look at options to advance projects where possible and work to eliminate red tape, speed-up regulatory approvals and ensure better coordination among all of the people working to bring service to your doors.
We are committed to providing access to as close to 100% of Nova Scotian homes and businesses as possible.
Project Zones
For more information on projects in your community, select your region below. Or enter your community name or the first three digits of your postal code in the search bar.
Select a project zone from the map for more information.
List of zones
Western NS (Zone 1)
| Annapolis / Hants (Zone 3)
| Shelburne / Barrington (Zone 2) COMPLETE
| South Shore (Zone 4)
| Cumberland / Colchester (Zones 5 & 6)
| Pictou (Zone 8)
| HRM / Eastern Shore (Zone 7)
| Eastern Strait/Guysborough (Zone 9)
| Rural Cape Breton (Zone 10)
| CBRM (Zone 11)
Note: The names of our Internet zones don’t necessarily represent the counties they fall within.
What is the current update including timelines?
Excellent progress has been made as the original goal of 95% coverage has been surpassed. To date, we currently have approximately close to 100% coverage with access to connections continuing to happen regularly. With the Satellite Internet Service Rebate, access is available to close to 100% of Nova Scotians.
While most projects are complete or substantially complete, remaining project areas shifted into 2024 as result of added challenges including Post-Fiona restoration efforts, resulting in temporary shifts of resources by providers and partners from the overall project. This event, and more recent damage related to floods, hurricanes and wildfires, required resources to be redirected, and further impacted required make ready work. Winter and wind storms for example can also require crews to be relocated for repairs/bring essential services back online.
The types and volume of make ready work – which can include such items as pole inspection/replacements, additional tree trimming and permits to access areas - can vary and take additional time for all of the pieces to come together. There are also seasonal impacts such as weight restrictions on some roads and woodpeckers that damage poles.
Build Nova Scotia continues to work closely with all partners to mitigate challenges in the project delivery wherever possible.
Project pages will be updated to reflect project changes, main reasons for any shifts, and periodic information as the remaining projects progress.
What is the coverage to date?
When the project started, there were approximately 103,000 underserved locations across the province. To date, approximately 101,000 have access either through traditional Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative projects or the Satellite Internet Service Rebate Program. To date, we have approximately 99% coverage and close to 100% with the satellite option.
The Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative has met, and exceeded, the original goal to bring high-speed internet to 95% of underserved homes and businesses.
What do these shifts look like?
Here is a snapshot look at where we are.
- Approximately 103,000 underserved locations were identified at the project start.
- Approximately 101,000 homes and businesses have access to date.
- There were approximately 10,500 remaining underserved locations at the end of 2023. The majority of these have since been served with the final locations underway.
- Locations that can't be reached via a feasible land-based technology would have StarLink (high-speed satellite) as their option. The Satellite Rebate Program continues into 2024 and also provides an interim option for those in a current project area.
Addresses in some project areas already have access and the 2-3 month windows are anticipated for the overall project area. Individual addresses often have access before the full project area is complete.
What are the steps to complete a fibre/wired project?
The steps to complete a fibre/wired project include-
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Milestone 1 – Network transport, edge and power planning, field scoping, detailed designs, work order issuance, equipment procurement.
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Milestone 2 – Hydro Make Ready activities (tree trimming, pole replacement, etc.) and any permits that need to be secured to construct the fibre.
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Milestone 3 – Fibre installation, equipment placement, fibre splicing, testing, core network installation and commissioning.
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Milestone 4 (Service Ready for Nova Scotians) – Uploading customer records into service qualification database, all final work, service launch.