FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for Residents

BridgeNet is the City of New Westminster’s open-access fibre network. It gives residents access to fast, reliable internet through independent Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

Use this page to understand what BridgeNet is, how to check your address, and what you can do as a renter, owner, or strata council member.

  1. Go to Check Your Address and look up your home or building.
  2. See your building status: On-Net or Near-Net.
  3. If your building is eligible, choose the active ISP from Meet Your Internet Service Providers and contact them.

You will always buy internet service from an ISP, not from the City.

BridgeNet is the City of New Westminster’s open-access fibre network. It is fibre optic infrastructure that runs through parts of the city and into many multi-unit buildings.

BridgeNet does not sell internet service directly to residents. Instead, it gives Internet Service Providers (ISPs) access to City-owned fibre. Those ISPs then offer internet, TV, and phone packages to residents and businesses.

No. BridgeNet is not an internet provider.

BridgeNet is the network. Independent ISPs use that network to provide internet service to you. You will always:

  • Choose an ISP
  • Sign up for a plan with that ISP
  • Pay your monthly bill to that ISP

The City owns and maintains the fibre network, but the ISP provides your service and support.

You can check your status on the Check Your Address page.

  1. Enter your address.
  2. Review the result for your building.
  3. Look for one of these statuses: On-Net or Near-Net.

Your result will help you understand your next step.

  • On-Net
    Your building is already connected to BridgeNet. ISPs can offer fibre-based services in your building.
  • Near-Net
    BridgeNet fibre is nearby, but your building is not fully connected yet. In many cases, a connection can be completed within a short time once a building owner or strata agrees.

For all statuses, you can still contact an ISP or talk to your landlord or strata council about interest in BridgeNet.

If your building shows as On-Net, note the active ISP and visit Meet Your Internet Service Providers for contact information. Your ISP will explain how the connection works inside your suite and will arrange any required installation.

If your building is Near-Net, you can still help move things forward.

  • If you are a renter or owner
    • Talk to your landlord, property manager, or strata council.
    • Share this website and the For Businesses and Property Managers page.
    • Let them know there is existing or planned City fibre that can support tenants.
  • If you sit on a strata council or volunteer on a building committee

In many cases, clear interest from residents and building decision-makers helps move a building from Near-Net to connected.

If you rent:

Check your address.

  • If your building is On-Net or Near-Net, talk to your landlord or property manager.
  • Share this page and ask if they are willing to approve BridgeNet connections and allow ISPs to work in the building.

If you own a condo:

  • Check your address.
  • If your building is On-Net or Near-Net, contact your strata council or property manager.
  • Ask if BridgeNet is already in use and whether multiple ISPs are available.
  • If not, share the For Businesses and Property Managers page so they can learn about options.

If you are on a strata council:

  • Review For Businesses and Property Managers for information about building connections.
  • Put BridgeNet on your next agenda so council can discuss it.
  • Use this FAQ as a handout or summary for owners.
  • Contact an ISP or BridgeNet to ask about timelines, costs to owners (if any), and installation steps.

Yes. Connecting to BridgeNet is ultimately the choice of the developer, strata council, or property owner.
However, allowing BridgeNet in a development or building:

  • Gives future occupants access to fast, competitive internet, TV, and phone services
  • Supports choice between multiple ISPs
  • Can make a building more attractive to renters and buyers

Residents can still ask decision-makers to consider BridgeNet and share City information to support informed decisions.

Most of the fibre work happens outside or in shared building spaces such as service rooms and corridors. Every building is different, but in general:

  • BridgeNet and the ISP will plan the route and coordinate any work with the building owner or strata.
  • There may be short periods of work in common areas while fibre is brought into the building.
  • In individual suites, an ISP may need to install or replace a modem or router.

Your ISP is the best source for details about what installation will look like in your home.

BridgeNet’s fibre network is built to support very high internet speeds, with capacity well beyond what most households need today. Actual speeds depend on the internet service provider you choose, but fibre delivers a faster, more reliable connection than older technologies like DSL.

In practical terms, depending on your ISP plan, you may be able to:

  • Download an HD movie in about 25 seconds
  • Download about 25 songs in about one second
  • Stream video, join video meetings, game online, and browse on multiple devices at the same time, with fewer slowdowns

Actual speeds depend on the plan you choose from your ISP, your home network, and the number of devices in use.

At this time, BridgeNet focuses on buildings with a minimum of 40 units, such as:

  • Condo buildings
  • Rental apartments
  • Mixed-use buildings in specific areas of New Westminster

Some townhouses or low-rise complexes may be eligible if they are part of a connected multi-unit development.
To see whether your address is part of BridgeNet’s current or planned service area, use Check Your Address.

Pricing is set by ISPs, not by the City.

To understand costs:

  1. Check your address to confirm your building status.
  2. Visit Meet Your Internet Service Providers to see which providers serve BridgeNet-connected buildings.
  3. Compare plans based on speed, price, data needs, and services (internet, TV, phone).

You will pay your ISP directly based on the plan you select.

Always contact your ISP first.

  • If your connection is slow, not working, or your bill seems incorrect, your ISP will troubleshoot and support you.
  • The City maintains the BridgeNet infrastructure, but all customer service and technical support for residents is handled by ISPs.

Your ISP will contact BridgeNet if there is an issue with the fibre network.

If you need help, you can:

  • Contact your chosen ISP and ask if they offer support in your preferred language
  • Contact the City using the Contact Us page to ask about translated materials

BridgeNet is built as a modern, high-capacity fibre network.

  • The City manages the physical fibre infrastructure.
  • ISPs manage your internet service, including security features such as modems, routers, and account protections.

BridgeNet is designed to support reliable, high-speed connections for residents and businesses. For specific security features, speak with your ISP about encryption, modems, routers, and recommended safe use practices at home.

FAQs for Businesses and Property Managers

These questions are for business owners, commercial tenants, property managers, strata councils, and developers who want to understand how BridgeNet can support their buildings and tenants.

BridgeNet is the City of New Westminster’s open-access dark fibre network. Local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use this fibre to deliver high-speed internet, phone and TV services to businesses and residents.

Getting Started and Eligibility

BridgeNet is a fibre network owned by the City of New Westminster and leased to qualified ISPs.

For your building, this means:

  • High-performance fibre infrastructure right to your property
  • Choice of ISP, rather than being locked into a single provider
  • A competitive advantage for attracting and retaining tenants

BridgeNet itself does not sell internet service. ISPs use BridgeNet fibre to offer business-grade internet, phone and TV services.

Start with the Check Your Address tool on the website.

You can:

  • Enter your address to see if your building is On-Net Near-Net
  • View nearby BridgeNet locations
  • Use the results to plan next steps with your ISP, strata, property manager or ownership group

If you manage more than one building, see the question below on multi-building portfolios.

On-Net

  • Your building is already connected to BridgeNet.
  • Authorized ISPs can usually connect your suites or commercial units using existing infrastructure.

Near-Net

  • BridgeNet fibre is very close to your building.
  • The City can typically complete the last section of fibre in a defined timeframe once a connection is requested and approved.

If you see Near-Net, it is still worth reaching out. Interest from building owners, managers and tenants helps BridgeNet plan the buildout.

For Property Managers and Building Owners

  1. Check your address using the online tool.
  2. If the building is On-Net or Near-Net, contact the active ISP listed on the BridgeNet map, and/or
  3. Share the information with owners, strata councils or tenants as needed.

Your ISP can then walk you through connection options, internal wiring needs and service packages.

BridgeNet can help your project:

  • Stand out as fibre-ready in a competitive market
  • Attract tenants who rely on fast, stable internet for work, retail, healthcare, education or hospitality
  • Align with the City’s digital and economic development goals

You can feature BridgeNet in your marketing materials once a connection plan is confirmed.

For Business Tenants

Yes. If you rent space in a commercial or mixed-use building, you can:

  1. Use Check Your Address to see your building’s status.
  2. Contact the active ISP listed on the BridgeNet Map in your building for pricing.
  3. Talk to your landlord, property manager or strata council about connecting the building if it is Near-Net or Planned.

You can share simple points such as:

  • “Our address appears as Near-Net on the City’s BridgeNet map.”
  • “BridgeNet is a City-owned fibre network. ISPs use it to provide high-speed business internet.”
  • “Connecting the building could help current tenants and attract future tenants.

You can also link them to the For Businesses and Property Managers page.

If you are a tenant or business customer, your first call is always your ISP, because:

  • They manage your service, modem/router and support
  • They coordinate with BridgeNet if there is a network issue

No. The City provides the fibre infrastructure through BridgeNet and leases it to authorized ISPs.
Only ISPs sell internet, phone and TV services to end customers.

FAQs for Internet Service Providers

These questions are for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who are interested in delivering services over BridgeNet, the City of New Westminster’s open access dark fibre network.

BridgeNet is owned by the City of New Westminster. ISPs lease fibre from the City and use it to deliver internet, phone and TV services to residents and businesses.

BridgeNet is the City of New Westminster’s open access dark fibre network.

This means:

  • The City owns and manages the fibre infrastructure.
  • Qualified ISPs lease fibre and light it with their own equipment.
  • Residents and businesses receive services directly from ISPs, not from the City.

BridgeNet is designed to support multiple ISPs and encourage competition, choice and high-quality service in New Westminster.

“Open access dark fibre” means:

  • The City provides fibre infrastructure to key areas and buildings.
  • ISPs lease fibre-optic strands and use their own electronics to light the network.
  • More than one ISP can, in principle, serve the same BridgeNet-connected building.

This model separates the fibre infrastructure from the retail services, giving ISPs a level playing field while residents and businesses benefit from more choice.

BridgeNet fibre is available or expanding in many areas of New Westminster, including:

  • Downtown
  • Uptown
  • Quayside
  • Queensborough
  • Brewery District
  • Victoria Hill

Coverage continues to grow over time. The Check Your Address tool on the website shows whether specific buildings are On-Net, Near-Net or Planned.

  • On-Net
    • The building is already connected to BridgeNet.
    • You can typically order services once you have an agreement with the City and any in-building work is complete.
    • On-Net sites support faster activation.
  • Near-Net
    • BridgeNet fibre runs close to the building, but the final connection is not yet built.
    • The City can usually complete the last segment after a connection request is approved.
    • Near-Net interest from ISPs and property owners helps inform buildout priorities.
  • Sharing co-brandable visuals and key messages for use in your own campaigns

You are responsible for your own advertising and sales, but the City will provide clear and consistent information about BridgeNet so your messaging can align.

You do.

As an ISP:

  • You sell services to residents and businesses
  • You provide customer service, billing and technical support for your products
  • You manage your own equipment and service levels

BridgeNet provides the underlying fibre infrastructure and works with you to maintain a reliable network.

If a customer experiences a problem:

  1. They contact you, their ISP.
  2. You determine whether the issue is:
    • On the customer’s side (equipment, wiring or configuration),
    • On your own network, or
    • Potentially on the BridgeNet fibre segment.
  3. If there is a suspected BridgeNet issue, you contact the BridgeNet technical team following the agreed escalation process.

Customers should not contact the City directly about service issues. Their ISP remains their point of contact.

The public Check Your Address tool and BridgeNet map show:

  • On-Net buildings
  • Near-Net locations

As an ISP partner, you can also discuss potential opportunities with the BridgeNet team and share areas of interest. This helps align network planning with your sales strategy and local demand.

Yes. BridgeNet encourages clear, measurable campaigns. Options may include:

  • Using tracked links (for example, UTM parameters) from the BridgeNet website to your landing pages
  • Coordinating specific campaigns so you can compare leads from BridgeNet against your other channels

BridgeNet provides:

  • Clear key messages about what BridgeNet is and is not
  • Shared explanations of terms such as On-Net, Near-Net and Planned
  • Up-to-date website content that you can reference in your own materials

This helps reduce confusion for residents and businesses, and supports a consistent experience even when customers are comparing multiple ISPs.

Start typing and press enter to search

Scroll to Top