"Open Access
is where it starts"

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Welcome to ORNet

Mission Statement
"To form regional partnerships to make investments in technology that promote regional decision making, support economic development, transform research and education, and boost the competitiveness of the Okanagan in a knowledge-based economy. "

Our Purpose
"To encourage and pursue the development of a fiber-based, open-access next-generation network (NGN), equally available to all citizens and service providers, replacing the traditional model of vertically integrated or imperfectly unbundled networks and limited facilities."

Latest News

Friday, February 10, 2006

ORNet being created

The leadership team for the okanagan regional partnership unanimously declared their support for the creation of the Okanagan Regional Network society. Therefore we are currently pursuing the creation of the ORNet society with founding members and a board of directors representing the entire Okanagan including the Okanagan First Nations, municipalities, school districts and post secondary institutions.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Feasibility Study Completed

Westcoast CED Consulting Ltd. have completed the feasibility study and business action plan. Although they are unable to fulfill the business plan, they have provided an incredible depth of research and analysis behind their recommendations.

The next stage is to present this report to the leadership team for approval, as well as guidance on how to proceed with the business action plan.

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Where we are at.

A blog has been created for the Okanagan partnership at blogger.com and hosted on the Okanagan Partnership web site. We are restricting who can post to the blog, but if you wish to be included then please email me and I'll invite you as a member. However you will have to create a blogger account to do this.

On to the latest news:

Victor and Lois Cumming of West Coast CED have been hired to develop the feasbility study and ultimately the business case for the Okanagan Broadband Initiative, or Okanagan Net as we are calling it now. If you have anything to contribute please feel free to send her an email.

The terms of reference for the Leadership and Technical Teams are nearing completion and will be posted as soon as they are finalized.

There will be a Technical Team meeting on Wednesday June 29th (10:30 a.m.) in Kelowna. The objectives to be discussed include the following:

Introductions - vision for the project
ORAN Project Update
Round Table Updates on Municipal Initiatives
Roles and Responsibilities of the technical team
Technical Decisions Required - are there any outstanding questions/decisions/issues that need addressing
Network Design and Implementation Plan requirements: what are the key components (facility, equipment, on-going management)
Products - what kinds of applications and products will be
available for municipalities
Technical Resource Requirements

In the beginning....

This blog is provided as a means of communicating the progress of the Okanagan Regional Network (ORNet) project to all stakeholders and anyone else who is interested. Please feel free to post comments to any of the posts and let us know your thoughts, or anything you feel might help make this project a success.