County of Brant partners with CIRA to benchmark community broadband levels

The County of Brant is proud to announce a new partnership with the CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority) and leverage their Internet Performance Test (IPT) to benchmark broadband levels within the community. This partnership emphasizes the County of Brant’s commitment to improving local internet infrastructure to support economic growth, education and overall quality of life throughout our communities.

"We all recognize the importance of having access to reliable, high-speed broadband,” said County of Brant Ward 4 Councillor David Miller. “The pandemic made this abundantly clear. To that end, all three levels of government have worked with Internet Service Providers to bring broadband to those lacking it. Partnering with CIRA to monitor internet performance is an excellent tool to help us ensure that the taxpayer invested monies are being effectively utilized across our County."

The IPT is a powerful tool designed to provide accurate and detailed data on internet performance, including download and upload speeds, latency and other metrics. By utilizing this tool, residents and the County can better understand current broadband access and identify areas for potential development. The tool, if an account is created, will record previous test speeds and provide residents with a performance snapshoot over time.

“We are pleased to partner with the County of Brant to help better understand local internet performance,” said Jeff Buell, Program Manager of the Internet Performance Test. “This initiative aligns with our mission to empower Canadian communities with the insights they need to make data-driven decisions about reducing barriers to digital access.”

Residents are encouraged to participate by frequently running tests, which can be accessed through the CIRA performance website . To run a test with the best results, ensure you’re as close to your wireless router as possible or plug into your router directly. Stop any ongoing downloads or background apps that could be using your connection. Also, ask other users if they can pause any online activities while you test. To begin the test select Start, you may be asked to confirm your location before submitting.

Running tests frequently and at different times during the day will help create an accurate picture of your connection and if there are any time-of-day bottlenecks. By participating you are helping create a comprehensive view of broadband performance across Brant.

For more information on internet services in the County of Brant, please visit the Brant Connects page on our website. 

About CIRA

CIRA is the national not-for-profit best known for managing the .CA domain on behalf of all Canadians. As a leader in Canada’s internet ecosystem, CIRA offers a wide range of products, programs and services designed to make the internet a secure and accessible space for all. CIRA represents Canada on both national and international stages to support its goal of building a trusted internet for Canadians by helping shape the future of the internet. The Internet Performance Test is one of CIRA’s key initiatives aimed at providing communities and policymakers with essential data to advocate for better internet services.