Islanders get to point-and-click at high speed.

If they can do it in Africa, they can do it on Manitoulin Island.

At least that is the way Carolyn Lane Rock sees it. She is a member of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) board that announced a $485,000 investment to bring high speed Internet services to 80 per cent of Manitoulin Island.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle, was in Gore Bay in July to make the announcement Stewarding the initiative is the Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation general manager, Susan Church, who will be working with engineering firm OmniGlobe Networks and numerous community and First Nation members to deliver broadband to 30 communities on the island.

Residents and season cottagers, businesses and entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to expand their education, health care, business opportunities through the broadband service. It is expected to begin once FedNor matches the province's investment.

OmniGlobe has invested $2 million toward the project. With NOHFC's contribution, the initiative is now that much closer to realization.

The speed will be the standard one-and-a-half megabytes persecond as adopted by most communities in southern Ontario and Nova Scotia, says Nigel Maund, engineer and vice-president of business development for OmniGlobe. Site surveys will begin and communication towers will be set up to transmit from 26 points. They expect to service 1,800 clients after three years. It will be a big undertaking for the company and Maund wants "to do it right. There is going to be a lot of work that will go into this."

When service is key, it's important for businesses to understand how high speed internet can help them, Maund says.

After sending out numerous inquiries around the Gore Bay vicinity for lodging, Maund received an e-mail back from a proprietor eager for his business.

"The one that responds quick gets my business," he says. Equally, "if the website is laid out well they again will obtain my business."

OmniGlobe is based out of Montreal and will be expanding into the southern Ontario market as demand increases. They have implemented broadband technology in Africa, Middle East, Nova Scotia and parts of southern Ontario.

www.blueskynet.ca