Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal and provincial governments have announced more than $12.5 million to expand broadband internet service to thousands of homes and businesses in southwestern Ontario.
In Grey County, $2.7 million will be used to expand services in Holstein, Varney, Orchardville, Maple Lane, Yeovil, Dromore, Tartan, Thistle and Bognor. In Bruce County, more than $770,000 will impact Sauble Beach and Sauble Beach North.
Essex County will receive $5.3 million in to expand service to more than 3,400 homes, farms and businesses.
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Windsor MP Irek Kusmierczyk. This announcement will ensure that thousands of homes, businesses, and farms in Essex County can connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”
More than $1.2 million will support construction of a new infrastructure network for more than 1,800 homes, farms, and businesses in the communities of Mount Carmel, Wigle, Blytheswood, Oakland and Staples by June 2023 and $3.8 million was awarded for infrastructure in Summerhill, Henfryn, Thames Road, Lumley, Hurondale, Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich.
The contracts for all the deployments were awarded by SWIFT Inc., a not-for-profit corporation initiated by municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet to more than 63,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2025.