(Huron, ON) December 10, 2021 – SWIFT is pleased to report that three awarded high-speed fibre-optic broadband projects have begun construction in Huron County to bring improved internet service to 516 additional homes and businesses located within the municipalities of Central Huron, Morris-Turnberry and South Huron.
“Reliable connectivity is essential to supporting the social and economic growth of small and rural communities throughout Southwestern Ontario” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “With work underway to expand broadband service in Huron County, we are proud to partner with local internet service providers to further ensure that many more residents will soon benefit from having greater access to fast, reliable high-speed internet.”
“Broadband expansion is good news for families, farms and businesses in these communities,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Huron-Bruce. “Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for Ontarians in our digital world, as these communities need high-speed internet to do their schoolwork, run a business or stay connected with family. Broadband internet is critical infrastructure that benefits the whole community and we’re delivering it to every corner in Ontario.”
“I’m excited to see progress being made on local high-speed fibre-optic broadband projects in Huron,” said Huron County Warden, Glen McNeil. “This project improves our ability to connect, learn and do business. It’s an excellent example of the great things that can come from collaboration and partnership. I commend everyone involved!”
In partnership with SWIFT, Tuckersmith Communications has begun construction on two high-speed broadband networks that will collectively bring fibre-to-the-home service to 282 homes and businesses within Huron County.
The first project will bring improved connectivity to the community of Sunshine located within the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry with the main fibre route running along Morris Road between Brussels and Belgrave. Construction of the new high-speed fibre-optic network is slated to be completed by early 2022.
The second awarded project will lay fibre-optic cabling to provide high-speed internet service to underserved areas surrounding Porter’s Hill in the Municipality of Central Huron. Construction of the high-speed network is forecasted to be completed with service fully available by early 2023.
Hay Communications has also started construction on a fibre-to-the-home network in the Municipality of South Huron to bring improved high-speed internet service to 234 rural underserved households and businesses located east and southwest of Exeter, including the areas surrounding the communities of Hurondale, Lumlay and Thames Road. Construction of the new broadband network is expected to be completed with service fully available to all residents within the SWIFT funded project area by early 2022.
For more information on SWIFT funded projects, including construction completion dates, please visit, swiftruralbroadband.ca
Quotes:
“Hay Communications’ SWIFT project construction is well underway. Drilling and plowing services overseen by our construction team, have seen over 90% of conduit completed for all the main roads in our new SWIFT territory and they will soon be moving to service conduit installation. Hay staff have also begun pulling and splicing fibre near the town of Mount Carmel. This will connect the new SWIFT project area to our current fibre network ring. Hay Communications is committed to project completion deadlines for connecting customers.”
– Angela Lawrence, General Manager, Hay Communications
“Tuckersmith Communications is pleased to partner with SWIFT in Huron County. This will allow us to extend our fibre network to many underserved rural residents.”
– Ian Mathew, Board Chair, Tuckersmith Communications
Quick Facts:
- Together with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, SWIFT will deliver a combined broadband infrastructure investment of $15 million to bring high-speed internet to more than 1,850 underserved homes and businesses within Huron County.
- In total, SWIFT has awarded 96 contracts to support the expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout Southwestern Ontario to bring more than 63,000 homes and businesses across the region improved access to high-speed internet. Local projects are underway, with 53 projects in the construction phase and 9 projects completed.
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
