Networking in training lab at NRC

[sgbaird]

The mobile hotspot has some reliability issues, and the upload bandwidth isn't enough to support our long-term plans, so Farhad is checking with the IT team to see what options are available for us getting a separate Internet-enabled network installed, preferably without having to rewire everything from scratch.

[sgbaird]

Sounds like contract wise we'll need to implement separately.

[sgbaird]

@pranshu-ui it sounds like we'll be mostly on our own for getting internet there. NRC is already using Bell, so we'll start by contacting them. Could you find the nearest Bell store to NRC and reach out to them via phone? (and send via slack Google map link to the Bell store and paste their phone number)

A few asides from Farhad for later:

In the agreement it asks for a plan to be submitted to NRC for approval. Right now I trying to figure out who approves the plan and how it should look like
This will need access to our telecom room so the Real Property team should approve it. Scott Jansen from our Real Property team is working on getting the information regarding accessing the telecom room
They may ask you for our account number but let them know that this is a separate account in the same building.

[pranshu-ui]

Looking into BELL plans closest to NRC.
The closest one is at: 5100 Erin Mills Pkwy Level 1, Mississauga, ON L5M 4Z5
And their contact is: [+19058209648].
Called them and they said to reach out to another competitor as their plan there only reaches up to 0.5mbps, which is essentially unusable. Will reach out to Rogers next.

[sgbaird]

Estimated needs for both upload and download maybe somewhere between 100 Mbps and 1Gbps ("b" as in "bit"). This is based on a rough assumption of having many simultaneous camera streams (e.g., 20+) in addition to data from other devices and AC folks doing normal tasks on their PCs (e.g., max ~5-10 people on the network). Fiber would make most sense I think because upload and download would be symmetric. I suppose we could start smaller (~100 Mbps) and increase later, too. Noting that Farhad clarified they do have a fiber optic line already.

I'm realizing we should be asking about business and/or enterprise internet packages rather than personal internet. I think we'll need to explain that there is already a fiber optics cable and internet across the whole facility, but that we need to create a separate one with the specs mentioned above. I'm sure there's a way to make it happen. @pranshu-ui could you call Bell via the small business number? If that's not so fruitful, also via the enterprise number? We should make it clear that we can pay for infrastructure going there, but that it seems unlikely since there is already a fiber optics line and that the facility has dozens of staff and heavy internet usage already, but that we need the separate network.

[pranshu-ui]

Reached out to Bell Enterprises and booked an appointment with one of their associates to figure out a fibre optic based plan for the lab at NRC. The appointment is on Monday, September 8th, and will be discussing connecting to the fibre line already at NRC and discussing monthly / construction costs. Lady on the call told me prices start ~$500/month for 1 GBPS with everything included. Will update here with appointment minutes.

Note: Reached out to Bell independant provider and Bell small business provider as well with no luck. Seems only enterprises can come in and put in a line for us. Also, the lady asked for what business we represent after not finding "Acceleration Consortium" on her end so I said University of Toronto. If that's an issue, I'll bring it up at the meeting.

[pranshu-ui]

For 500mbps, we're looking at ~600/month (not including construction fees). Completion time to build a new fibre optic line would be 3-4 months as the construction would be through the general area which would need several permits. But, assuming there is a line underneath NRC already, that would be around 6-8 weeks. They don't do on-site consultations/estimations until we sign a contract. I will forward the planned proposal to this chat in a bit and cc you on any communication regarding this.

[sgbaird]

If it were closer to 100 Mbps, would you expect the price to go down significantly? (Not sure if that came up, no worries if not - seems unlikely based on the 1Gbps and 500 Mbps estimates)

[sgbaird]

Based on a chat with Sean, at some point could you also check about something that's cable rather than fiber optic based (i.e. closer to 20 Mbps upload). I don't know if they'll support that or if it would change the price, but good to know the constraints. Likewise good to get a ballpark from Rogers Enterprise too.

[pranshu-ui]

Will do. Also should we represent ourselves as University of Toronto or Acceleration Consortium as the company thats looking for this service?

[pranshu-ui]

Here's Bell's proposal based on the speeds discussed for future reference.

UOT BID service proposal.pdf

[pranshu-ui]

Chatted with a Rogers associate, their plan is covered at the NRC and is faster for less of a cost. Check it out!
https://www.rogers.com/business/internet-services/5G-business-internet

[pranshu-ui]

Mentioned by Fahrad, NRC recently got access to "guest wifi"- rooted from the plan they already have- that AC could use. He said he'll figure out the details of that first, as that could save us the trouble of getting our own line (given that the guest wifi is sufficient enough for our use).