(Perth County, ON) April 20, 2022– SWIFT today announced fibre-optic connectivity is now available to an additional 293 homes and businesses throughout the municipalities of Perth East and North Perth, as the Southwestern Ontario regional broadband expansion program marks the completion of two high-speed networks in Perth County.
“SWIFT is proud to partner with Mornington Communications and Wightman Telecom on these very important projects as we continue our efforts to expand broadband service throughout Perth County and across Southwestern Ontario,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “With construction now complete on the newly established high-speed networks many more residents living in Perth County now have access to fast reliable connectivity.”
“We’re delivering on our commitment to provide access to high-speed internet for rural Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Building new broadband infrastructure in Perth County will help build Ontario and strengthen rural communities by helping people stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access the supports they need and providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.”
Mornington Communications, which was awarded funding through the SWIFT program to support the expansion of broadband infrastructure in Perth County, has completed the construction of a fibre-to-the-home network and is now offering high-speed internet service to 202 homes and businesses located between Hampstead and Shakespeare in the Township of Perth East along parts of Perth Road 107, Perth Lines 40, 43 and 47.
Within the Municipality of North Perth, Wightman Telecom has completed the construction of a fibre-optic network to provide high-speed internet service to 91 homes located east of Listowel in the residential development of The Village Park.
“We are excited for the next phase in rural broadband coverage in Perth County. This announcement will bring connectivity to almost 300 additional premises in our region. Local families and businesses continue to benefit from the increase in access to reliable high-speed internet,” said Perth County Warden, Jim Aitcheson.
For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca/projects
Today’s announcement is part of SWIFT’s $268 million regional broadband expansion plan that will bring high-speed internet service to more than 63,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario.
Additional Information:
Quick Facts:
- SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, has committed a combined investment of $6.6 million to bring high-speed internet service to 874 underserved homes and businesses throughout Perth County.
- In total, SWIFT has awarded 97 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 57 projects in the construction phase and 24 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
