Simcoe County receives $41 million in broadband upgrades

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) has awarded $41.1 million to support six fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) projects across Simcoe County, expanding broadband services for almost 13,000 households and businesses that currently have limited to no connectivity.

“As a region with a diverse range of rural and urban communities, access to reliable, high-speed connectivity is essential, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic as many of our businesses and residents are adapting to a new virtual environment,” said Simcoe County Warden George Cornell. “We are grateful to the Federal and Provincial governments, as well as our future private-sector partners, for their generous investment in expanding broadband connectivity in our region.”

The project was funded by a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program. Municipal partners and private sector investors have also supported improved access to broadband services across the region, including the County of Simcoe, which has provided approximately $2.5 million in funding to SWIFT since 2015.

Approximately 31,750 residents, across Simcoe County will see improvements in broadband internet services and newly announced projects will collectively service approximately 500 kilometres of roadway across 60 communities within Simcoe County.

Bell Canada has been awarded funding to support three fibre-to-the-home projects that will collectively service 389 kilometres of underserved roadway to bring high-speed internet to 10,604 homes and businesses throughout the Townships of Clearview, Adjala-Tosorontio, Essa, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Tiny, Tay, Severn, Ramara and within the Towns of Midland, Penetanguishene and Innisfil. The projects represent a collective total investment of approximately $32 million and will be completed with service available by mid-2022.

SWIFT has signed an agreement with Vianet to deploy fibre cabling along more than 73 kilometres of underserved roadway throughout the Towns of New Tecumseth and Bradford West Gwillimbury and within the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio to deliver high-speed internet to 1,207 businesses and homes. Construction of the $5.8-million fibre-to-the-home solution is expected to be completed with service available early-2022.

Cogeco Communications will receive funding to deploy fibre-optic cabling along 19 kilometres of underserviced roads within the Township of Severn. The $1.5-million fibre-to-the-home network will deliver high-speed connectivity to 467 households and businesses by late-2022.

Rogers Communications was awarded a contract to deploy fibre-optic cabling along 15 kilometres of underserviced roads in the Township of Clearview. The $1.8-million fibre-to-the-home solution will deliver high-speed connectivity to 422 households and businesses by early-2022.

SWIFT is a non-profit regional broadband project initiated by the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus to subsidize the construction of high-speed broadband networks across Southwestern Ontario, Caledon and the Niagara Region.

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