Storm Internet Services announces further expansion of broadband wireless Internet services in Eastern Ontario.
Ontario's largest high-speed wireless Internet network extends to communities along corridor to Casselman and to the first "Wireless Smart Living Community" in Canada, with the assistance of local MPP Jean-Marc Lalonde.
Ottawa, Canada - February 21, 2001: Storm Internet Services (Storm), a subsidiary of International Datacasting Corporation (TSE: IDC), and the operator of the largest high-speed wireless Internet services network in Ontario, will announce this Thursday that they have finished construction of a new 45Mb backbone corridor from Metcalfe to Russell to Casselman, ON.
This new corridor will bring two-way symmetrical high-speed wireless Internet service to Eastern Ontario, with service to Russell, Embrun and Casselman. This is the final step before the move on to the Hawkesbury area. This eastern rollout was moved up on the build-out schedule, after numerous meetings and much work with Jean-Marc Lalonde MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. Mr. Lalonde has strongly promoted the Economic Development aspects of having high-speed Internet services and has worked with Storm and all the local Mayors to make it happen sooner than later.
Barry Williams, President & CEO of Storm, said, "We are quite pleased to finish this part of the rollout. This further expansion allows us to partner with Lapointe Developments Ltd. in Embrun, to bring online the first "Wireless Smart Living Community" in Canada. It is a very exciting project that involves Internet setup and network installation in the 200 brand new homes in Russell Meadows in Russell, MapleVale and Domaine Versailles in Embrun. These projects will feature fully networked, high-speed Internet ready homes that will be ideal for the telework community. Lapointe Developments is one of the areas premiere builders and Lucie Lapointe and her management team are very forward looking people who work hard in developing their community. They quite quickly saw the economic benefits for Embrun if local teleworkers stay home rather than commuting into the city. Working with a quality builder like Lapointe is going to be one of our main focuses in the near term future".
Lucie Lapointe, President of Lapointe Developments Ltd. stated that: "Lapointe Developments is proud to participate with Storm Internet Services to provide wireless high speed Internet in our communities. The Internet is giving us a world of new opportunities whether for business or personal use. The Internet service is an integral part of the future economic development of our communities. As part of our commitment to strong growth, our new homes will be Internet ready. We feel this is an important consideration for our new homebuyers".
Jean-Marc Lalonde, MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell said "I am extremely pleased with the announcement that Storm has completed this part of the corridor that will provide high speed wireless service along the Russell-Embrun-Casselman corridor. I am confident this is the beginning of a strong relationship that will benefit G-P-R".
"This service will ensure that we become an integral part of the high tech community and a participant in the economic boom that is presently taking place. Storm was willing to expand into the rural communities so that businesses here would have the same opportunity to compete in the high-tech industry. I would like to thank the managers and employees of Storm for making a commitment to our community that will put our businesses and constituents on the same footing as their counterparts in Ottawa.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Lucie Lapointe of Lapointe Development Ltd. in Embrun on becoming the first Wireless Smart Living community in Canada. Her leadership in providing high speed wireless service to her clients sets an example for other businesses in our area" said Jean-Marc Lalonde.
The Media and public are invited to a demo of the service at the Casselman Town Hall at 10.30 AM Thursday . Feb 22/01.
About Lapointe:
Founded in 1986, Lapointe Developments Ltd. is a family business owned by Lucie, Alain and François Lapointe. Lapointe Developments' various new home projects are a testimony of their commitment to quality construction. It has acquired a solid reputation in all of its new home projects in Domaine Versailles in Embrun, Carson Village in Gloucester, Cardinal Trail in Orleans, Jardins Panaroma in Rockland. Now building in Russell Meadows, in Russell, the next expansion is set for Embrun with Domaine Versailles PhaseIII, MapleVale and Les Jardins. Lapointe Developments is part of the Lapointes' enterprises which includes Dynamic Drains Inc, Lapointe Drainage Ltd, Lapointe Elevators and Embrun Chrysler Jeep.
About Storm:
Storm Internet officially went on-line July 15th, 1996, providing Internet access to home and business users
with a wide variety of internet access services ranging from traditional analog 56K dial up access, domain
hosting to dedicated high speed wireless internet connections. Storm prides itself on implementing the leading
edge in new technologies to provide faster and more reliable connectivity, as well as simpler and more
powerful web interfaces. In four years of operation, Storm's client base has grown to well over 3,000 users
and revenues have had an average annual growth rate exceeding 100%. This growth has been achieved
consistently and reliably because of the dedication and care taken to maintain excellent customer service. In September 2000, INTERNATIONAL DATACASTING CORP (TSE; IDC) of Ottawa acquired Storm Internet Services.
Visit
Storm at www.storm.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Storm Internet Services
Susan Brandt, Vice-President Sales & Marketing
(613) 567-6585 or e-mail susan@storm.ca
Lapointe Development Ltd.
Lucie Lapointe
(613) 443-5263
Jean-Marc Lalonde MPP
(613) 446-4010