EH!tel Networks is now offering high-speed internet service to Wellington County residents in the Ariss area.
Wellington, ON – August 20 ,2020 – Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) today announced that high-speed internet is now available to Wellington County residents in the Ariss area. The newly established broadband coverage is now being offered by EH!tel Networks (EH!tel) and is the first area to receive access to high-speed internet as part of SWIFT’s ongoing Southwestern Ontario broadband expansion efforts.
“Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for SWIFT as we continue to drive forward with our deployment plans and deliver on our commitment to expand broadband access across Southwestern Ontario,” says SWIFT Board Chair David Mayberry. “Moving forward there is still work that needs to be done to ensure equitable access to high-speed internet across the region, but today’s announcement brings us one step closer to closing that digital divide. We are proud of this achievement and are grateful for the ongoing support we have received from the Government of Ontario and Canada, as well as from our municipal partners, that have made this infrastructure investment possible.”
“This is very exciting for our Wellington County residents and businesses,” says Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton. “The need for reliable, high-speed internet has never been clearer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential for residents to be able to work remotely; businesses to operate; and students to be able to continue their education online. On behalf of Wellington County Council, I would like to thank the Government of Ontario, SWIFT and everyone who has worked so hard to get this project off the ground.”
Eh!tel, in partnership with SWIFT, intends to increase broadband access to more than 650 homes and businesses in the Ariss, Ponsonby and Inverhaugh area.
Construction of the $2.6 million broadband infrastructure project began in April, with Eh!tel now accelerating the rollout of its high-speed services to bring customers online in a phased approach, starting in Ariss.
“EH!tel would like to extend its sincere thanks to SWIFT for the opportunity to construct this project. The hard work and dedication the SWIFT team has put into their broadband initiative is a large step forward in bridging the digital divide for our rural friends and neighbors,” says Antonius Peeters, Chief Executive Officer, EH!tel. “As technology continues to evolve, broadband capacity is now and will continue to be, an essential service. A point in fact brought strongly to the forefront in our local community, our country and indeed the entire world with the restrictions placed on individuals and families due to the impact of the COVID 19 outbreak.”
Coverage throughout the remaining project area will continue to improve as work is now underway in portions of Inverhaugh and Ponsonby with construction expected to be completed and services fully available by mid 2021.
“It’s very exciting to see customers now being brought online as a direct result of our public-private initiative,” says Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “Residents in the project area, who may not have otherwise received access to high-speed internet, will now have the ability and opportunity to enjoy the benefits of reliable and fast connectivity.”
To determine eligibility for service or to learn more about EH!tel’s high-speed internet service, visit www.ehtel.ca or call 519.594.0946.
Quick Facts:
- SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, previously announced a combined investment of approximately $12 million to deliver high-speed internet to more than 2,900 underserved homes and businesses across Wellington County.
- EH!tel was awarded funding to bring fibre-optic broadband service to roughly 550 premises in the communities of Ariss, Ponsonby, and Inverhaugh. Additionally, this project will also provide high-speed broadband service via wireless to roughly 100 rural residences surrounding the community of Inverhaugh.
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.
The project was approved for funding 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 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
