New Westminster – The City of New Westminster has been selected by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) as a top 30 global intelligent community, ranked by broadband.  This designation is a result in the City’s investment into Intelligent New West, an evolving initiative that harnesses the City-owned broadband fibre network, BridgeNet, along with an open government philosophy to improve access and increase opportunities in the new digital economy. New Westminster previously received recognition by ICF as a global SMART 21 community in 2017.

“Being ranked by the Intelligent Community Forum as 18th world wide, and receiving the highest ranking in British Columbia in broadband speaks to the benefits of BridgeNet for the businesses and residents of New West,” said Acting Mayor Patrick Johnstone, co-chair of the Intelligent City Advisory Committee. “The Intelligent New West strategy has been moving the City forward since 2012, promoting a knowledge-based workforce and local economy while working with our local partners towards broadband digital access for all residents and businesses” 

BridgeNet is New Westminster’s city-owned open access fibre network and was officially launched in June 2016. The City serves as the neutral and independent open access provider, which allows New Westminster to offer standard and transparent pricing to internet service providers (ISPs)s on the network, increasing consumer choices and stimulating local broadband service competition as a result. Through BridgeNet, the City is collaborating with telecommunications providers, Internet service providers and value-added service vendors to bring more connectivity options throughout the city.  The City has also signed an agreement with BC-Net, a not-for-profit shared information technology services organization in British Columbia, to bring fiber connectivity to Douglas College, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and Royal Columbian Hospital.

For more information visit: www.newwestcity.ca/intelligentnw

For more information on the Intelligent Community Forum’s top 30 Global Communities by Broadband, visit: https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/icf_rankings_by_broadband

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Media Contact:
Jen Arbo
Economic Development Coordinator
604-636-4458