(Perth County, ON) August 28, 2024 – SWIFT proudly announces the successful completion of several high-speed fibre-optic broadband projects in Perth County, marking a significant milestone in the region’s digital infrastructure development.
Through strategic investments totaling $6.3 million, SWIFT, in partnership with the municipality and local service providers, have successfully expanded high-speed internet services to 882 previously underserved homes and businesses throughout the region.
“These network expansion projects promise significant benefits, including enhanced educational opportunities, better healthcare access, and increased potential for remote work for residents and businesses throughout Perth County,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “Through strategic collaboration with our partners, SWIFT has successfully extended vital internet services to more homes and businesses in Perth County, resulting in enhance connectivity and greater economic growth potential throughout the region.”
“We are pleased to see the successful completion of the network expansion projects in Perth County,” said Perth County Warden, Rhonda Ehgoetz. “Access to reliable high-speed broadband plays a vital role for residents and businesses in our region.”
Key highlights of the completed projects include:
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- Fibre-to-the-Home Projects with Mornington Communications: Mornington Communications has successfully completed three SWIFT funded fibre-to-the-home projects within Perth County, expanding service along 166 kilometres of underserved roadway. These projects have collectively provided high-speed internet access to 677 homes and businesses across various communities, including Amulree, Mennonite Corner, Ratzburg, Hampstead, Lisbon, Donegal, Britton and Tralee.
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- Tuckersmith Communications Fibre-Optic Network Expansion: Tuckersmith Communications has successfully completed the construction of a fiber-optic project in Perth County. Covering 32 kilometres of rural roadway, this completed project is now providing high-speed internet access to 114 rural homes and businesses across the communities of Slabtown, Bornholm and Willow Grove.
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- Wightman Telecom Fibre-Optic Project: SWIFT partnered with Wightman Telecom to deploy fibre cabling along an underserved kilometre stretch of roadway. This initiative has successfully provided 91 homes and businesses situated east of Listowel in the residential enclave known as The Village at Listowel. The primary fibre route extends from Perth Line 86 into the residential development, granting residents access to high-speed fibre-to-the-home service.
These completed projects represent a significant investment in digital infrastructure and underscore SWIFT’s commitment to bridging the digital divide, promoting economic growth, and improving the quality of life for residents and businesses in Perth County and surrounding areas.
For additional information about SWIFT and its broadband expansion plans, please visit www.swiftruralbroadband.ca.
Quick Facts:
- Perth County benefited from a total of $6.3 million in broadband upgrades, with over $2.7 million contributed by service providers, as part of the SWIFT program.
- Through SWIFT’s $273 million regional broadband expansion plan, nearly 67,000 previously underserved homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario will be provided with access to high-speed internet service, including 882 rural homes and businesses in Perth County.
About SWIFT
Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (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.
The project was approved for funding up to $127.4 million under the New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund (NBCF-SCF), a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program, and leverages additional funding from municipal partners and private sector investors to bring improve access to broadband services across the region.
Media Contact:
Melissa O’Brien
[email protected]
Manager, Communications and Stakeholder Relations
Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology
226.256.1640
