- Rogers Communications completes the construction of a fibre-to-the-home network to connect more homes and businesses to high-speed internet in the community of Garafraxa Woods.
- Work is underway to improve broadband service in the municipalities of Mono and Amaranth, as North Frontenac Telephone Corporation (NFTC) is building out a fibre-optic network to bring improved broadband service to more homes and businesses within the communities of Camilla and Laurel.
(Dufferin, ON) December 17, 2021 – SWIFT announced today that Rogers Communications has completed the construction of a fibre-optic network in the northeastern section of the Township of East Garafraxa and is now offering high-speed internet service to 107 homes and businesses within the community of Garafraxa Woods.
“SWIFT is proud to be working together with Rogers Communications and NFTC to quickly expand high-speed fibre-optic services throughout Dufferin County,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “With service now available to many more residents located in the community of Garafraxa Woods and with work progressing at a steady pace in the municipalities of Mono and Amaranth, these important broadband investments will provide long-term sustainable connectivity that will have far reaching social and economic benefits on the communities.”
“Broadband expansion is good news for families, farms and businesses in Garafraxa Woods,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Access to high-speed internet is a necessity for Ontarians in our digital world, as families and businesses 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 pleased to see local high-speed fibre-optic broadband projects proceeding in Dufferin,” said Dufferin County Warden Wade Mills. “We need reliable high-speed internet access for our residents and these projects improve our ability to connect, learn and do business.”
Rogers Communications, which broke ground earlier this summer on the $688,000 fibre-to-the-home network, is now offering high-speed internet service to more homes and businesses located in the residential development of Garafraxa Woods.
“Today marks an important milestone as our teams, in partnership with SWIFT, completed the construction in Garafraxa Woods in Dufferin County. At a time when Canadians rely on fast and dependable internet to stay connected to their workplaces, learn online, participate in the digital economy, access telehealth services, and keep in touch with loved ones, local residents will now have access to Rogers Ignite Services,” said Philippe Oille, President of Southwestern Ontario Region, Rogers Communications.
In Dufferin County work is also underway in the municipalities of Mono and Amaranth, as NFTC is building out a $4.1 million fibre-optic network to service 633 homes and businesses located within the communities of Camilla and Laurel.
Once complete the network will service underserved rural areas and residential developments located between Shelburne to the north, Laurel to the west, Salem to the east and Orangeville to the south. Construction of the fibre-optic network started in September of this year and is expected to be completed with service fully available to all residents located with in the SWIFT funded project area in early 2022.
For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca/projects
Additional Information:
Quick Facts:
- SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, has committed a combined investment of $10.5 million to bring high-speed internet service to 1,835 underserved homes and businesses throughout Dufferin 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 10 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
