News & Events

Cybera’s response to telco petition to increase wholesale internet rates

/

Last week, Canada’s largest telecommunications providers, including Bell, Rogers and Telus, petitioned the federal government to reverse the CRTC’s August 2019 decision to lower wholesale rates. These rates are what the large telecommunication firms charge to resellers to provide internet services.  In its August 2019 decision, the CRTC stated that; “The Commission considers that the […]

Cybera’s response to telco petition to increase wholesale internet rates Read More »

Data transfers and consumer privacy part two: Cybera’s response to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada

/

In early September, Cybera submitted its response to a consultation by Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada on the modernization of Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). (This followed our August submission to an Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) consultation on transfers for processing.) Comments were requested on a number

Data transfers and consumer privacy part two: Cybera’s response to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada Read More »

Data transfers and consumer privacy: Cybera’s response to Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner

/

Earlier this month, Cybera submitted its response to a consultation issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) on transfers for processing. Specifically, the OPC is reviewing how consent and accountability should apply when a “controller” of an individual’s data transfers it to a third party for “processing”. For example, online stores routinely send

Data transfers and consumer privacy: Cybera’s response to Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner Read More »

The Origins of Canadian Supercomputing: The Visionary Role of Alberta

/

As part of Cybera’s 25th Anniversary, we will be publishing stories throughout the year looking back at the major milestones of Alberta computing. This week, we explore the early days of supercomputing in Canada, and how the University of Calgary’s investment in supercomputers helped set the stage for Compute Canada and the National Research and

The Origins of Canadian Supercomputing: The Visionary Role of Alberta Read More »

In places with no internet connectivity, Alberta libraries offer a lifeline

/

When you look at the total geographic region that the Peace Library System covers, you get a good sense of some of the challenges faced by its IT Services Manager, Janet Ayles. Peace Library basically serves the entire top-left corner of Alberta. With 46 libraries spread over 238,000 square kilometres, Ayles sees a broad range

In places with no internet connectivity, Alberta libraries offer a lifeline Read More »

Cybera’s Case to the Telecommunications Legislative Review

/

Last week, Cybera submitted a brief to the federal government’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review panel. The panel has been tasked with reviewing Canada’s communication legislative framework in the digital age, focusing on issues of content creation, net neutrality and cultural diversity, and how to strengthen the future of Canadian media. We would like to

Cybera’s Case to the Telecommunications Legislative Review Read More »

Forging computational superstars: the Fort McMurray success story

/

Something interesting is happening in Fort McMurray’s Westwood Community High School. If you scan the news section on the school’s website, you’ll see references to: A grade 12 student winning a medal at the 2018 Canada Wide Science Fair for his project using AI and RFID for medical smart technologies. Students creating a group called

Forging computational superstars: the Fort McMurray success story Read More »

High-speed drug discovery

/

A supercomputing collaboration between Alberta and Ontario, made possible by the national research and education network (NREN), is speeding up life-saving drug discoveries. How do you screen billions of drug compounds to find the right one? Connect a research team at the University of Alberta with a supercomputer 2,700 km away in Ontario using a

High-speed drug discovery Read More »

The dream of connecting Canada’s north has taken a huge leap forward

/

The Northwest Territories (NWT), like much of Canada’s north, faces serious disparities with internet access. A 2014 government survey found that, on average, around 20% of households in NWT were without internet. But this is just the average; in communities such as Fort Providence, Nahanni Butte, or Detah, the reality is that nearly two-thirds of

The dream of connecting Canada’s north has taken a huge leap forward Read More »

Astronomers Use Cybera’s Rapid Access Cloud To Find ‘Very Unusual’ Star System

/

Adapted from the University of Alberta press release This graphic features an artist’s impression of the extraordinarily close stellar pairing, known as X9. Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Astronomers from the University of Alberta have found evidence of a star that orbits around a black hole every 28 minutes. This could be the

Astronomers Use Cybera’s Rapid Access Cloud To Find ‘Very Unusual’ Star System Read More »

CRTC Declares Broadband Internet Access a Basic Telecommunications Service – How Communities Can Benefit

/

Griping about a slow internet connection has become the unofficial pastime of rural Canadians. But a recent CRTC decision may improve this state of affairs. In December 2016, the commission ruled that residential fixed broadband and mobile broadband internet access are basic telecommunications services—equal in importance to the landline telephone of the 20th century. The

CRTC Declares Broadband Internet Access a Basic Telecommunications Service – How Communities Can Benefit Read More »

Why you should care about internet number resources (and here’s how to get involved)

/

The American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) is the non-profit, community driven organization responsible for managing internet number resources in North America and parts of the Caribbean. Anyone residing in the ARIN region with an interest in internet governance is encouraged to apply for the Fellowship Program.

Why you should care about internet number resources (and here’s how to get involved) Read More »

CRTC Wraps Up Hearing on the Future of Broadband in Canada

/

Last month, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) wrapped up a three-week hearing on the future of broadband in Canada. Nearly 90 academics, public interest groups, individuals, municipalities, and telecom companies appeared before the commission to comment on the feasibility of including high speed internet as a “basic telecommunications service.” The scope of the

CRTC Wraps Up Hearing on the Future of Broadband in Canada Read More »