MBiz

26 MBiz | november 2016 NETSET COMMUNICATIONS M ost of us take for granted the ability to turn on our smartphones or log onto our tablets, laptops or PCs to access our email, apps and Internet. However, that's not the case for all Manitobans. 2016 MBiz Award winner NetSet Communications is working to increase Internet coverage so that all Manitobans can get online. COO Tami Rae Clements and CEO Charlie Clark incorporated the Brandon-based company as I-NetLink Inc. in 2001, with five employees in rented space. Recently, they moved into a new headquarters with 114 employees. Clements says the 14,000-square-foot building and 3,000-square-foot warehouse were custom- designed specifically for the company. The move is a testament to the company's steady growth over the past 15 years. Clements says online access for rural Manitobans was limited back in 2001. Some people had dial-up service that was spotty and frustrating. Documents could take hours to download and phone lines were tied up in the meantime. Clements was working in computer sales when she met Clark, who was the owner of several successful businesses. The pair saw an opportunity to bring Internet service to rural residents and businesses. They built and erected transmission towers that can distribute a broadband signal for up to a 30-kilometre radius. Starting with one tower south of Brandon, NetSet Communications now has 154 towers as far north as Thompson and across the majority of Manitoba. Clements says NetSet is focusing on expansion, with the support of a 50-50 matching grant through the Digital 150 Federal Broadband Initiative. "We are building an additional 45 new 250-foot towers across Manitoba, including the southeast corner," she says. NetSet also now offers customers faster Internet service, since these days, many households are running multiple devices. "You might have a laptop and each of your three kids has a tablet or smartphone and you all want to be able to livestream video on your devices." When Clements and Clark were first building their customer base, they pitched their product and service to municipalities in southwest Manitoba. They told municipal councillors about the benefits of having towers installed within their communities to provide reliable Internet access for citizens — and to help attract new businesses and residents. Clements says local residents were excited about the prospect of going online in their offices and homes. "We actually had people waiting at the tower as it went live. They wanted to make appointments to get hooked up." Clements believes there's still much potential for the business to grow. "We like to keep to our core competencies — we like to serve the underserved," she says. Clements, who is about to become the third female president in the history of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, says she also hopes to serve as a mentor for young women considering careers in the technology field. ■ "You might have a laptop and each of your three kids has a tablet or smartphone and you all want to be able to livestream video on your devices." UNDERSERVED NetSet Communications puts rural Manitobans online By Andrea Geary Serving the

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