Business
VCom and the Pool Join Forces to Expand High-Speed Technology in Saskatchewan
VCom and the Pool Join Forces to Expand High-Speed Technology in Saskatchewan.
About this update from Vecima Networks Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\n\nREGINA, SK and VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 7 /CNW/ - VCom Inc. (TSX: VCM) and\nSaskatchewan Wheat Pool Inc. (TSX: SWP) today announced the establishment of a\nlong-term strategic relationship to expand high-speed technology to the Pool,\nits farm customers and communities throughout the Province of Saskatchewan.\nYourLink Inc., VCom's subsidiary Internet service provision company, and\nthe Pool have entered into a 7-year agreement to extend YourLink's wireless\nnetwork coverage to over 100 of the Pool's grain marketing and agri-product\ncentres across Saskatchewan. Combining VCom's top-selling Broadband Wireless\nInternet Network (BWIN) and newly developed WiMAX systems, YourLink will\nprovide high-speed, wireless broadband service to the Pool's Saskatchewan\nnetwork.\nAs part of the agreement, many of the Pool's sites will also become\nhigh-speed wireless access points that are expected to add several thousand\nsubscribers to YourLink's Saskatchewan base and generate $8 million in\nYourLink revenue over the life of the agreement. Targeting farms and small\ncommunities within range of the Pool's locations, YourLink will be able to\nprovide high speed Internet services to a large area of Saskatchewan beyond\nthe areas already covered by its extensive tower network.\n\"The Pool's grain handling network and strategically located\nagri-products facilities are a natural fit as access points,\" said VCom\nChairman and Chief Executive Dr. Surinder Kumar. \"The height and centrality of\nthese locations presents the strategic opportunity to provide Internet\nservices to farms, businesses and residents in neighbouring areas.\"\nAs one of the largest companies in the Province of Saskatchewan and a\nsignificant contributor to the economic fabric of rural communities, the Pool\nis expanding its commitment to agriculture through this initiative. It is the\nfirst step in a comprehensive strategy being employed by the Pool that will\nposition its growers with the technology and access to the real-time\ninformation they require to maximize their marketing opportunities and compete\nin the global marketplace.\nPresident and CEO Mayo Schmidt said, \"This relationship brings value to\nour operations by improving network performance and allowing us to manage\ncosts over the long-term. Our partnership allows the Pool to contribute to the\nexpansion...