(Huron County, ON) April 21, 2022 – SWIFT today announced high-speed fibre-optic internet service is now available to more homes and businesses in the rural communities of Roxboro and Sunshine in Huron County. As part of SWIFT’s broadband expansion plan, construction is also now underway within the municipalities of Howick, Central Huron and Huron East to provide an additional 838 homes and businesses with improved access to high-speed internet connectivity.
“Together with local internet service providers, Tuckersmith Communications and Wightman Telecom, SWIFT continues to drive greater connectivity throughout Huron County,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “Today we are pleased to announce the completion of construction on two high-speed fibre-optic networks that are now offering service in the rural communities of Roxboro and Sunshine. With additional construction of broadband infrastructure underway to bring improved service to the communities of Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich, many more residents and business owners in Huron County will soon have access to reliable broadband 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 Huron 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.”
Tuckersmith Communications, in partnership with SWIFT, has completed the construction of a high-speed fibre-optic network within the municipality of Huron East to provide service to 25 homes and businesses within the rural community of Roxboro and the surrounding area along part of Roxboro Line and Hydro Line Road.
In the municipality of Morris-Turnberry, Tuckersmith Communications is also now providing high-speed internet service to 47 homes and businesses along Morris Road between Brussels and Belgrave, including within the rural community of Sunshine.
Within the municipalities of Central Huron and Huron East, construction is underway to expand broadband service as Tuckersmith breaks ground on two high-speed fibre-optic projects to bring greater connectivity to rural areas within Huron County.
The first project will bring fibre-to-the-home service to 37 homes and businesses in the hamlet of Henfryn and the underserved areas along parts of Henfryn Line, Newry Road, Livingston Line, Krauter Line and McNaught Line. Construction of the new broadband infrastructure is expected to be complete with service fully available to all locations within the network’s coverage area by June 2022.
The second high-speed fibre-optic project will service 121 homes and businesses located in the underserved area surrounding the community of Summerhill and is forecasted to be complete by February 2023.
Work is also underway in the municipality of Howick to expand fibre-optic internet service to 680 homes and businesses within the communities of Wroxeter, Gorrie and Fordwich, as Wightman Telecom begins construction on a fibre-to-the-home network. The high-speed internet project, which began late last year, is forecasted to be complete with service fully available to all locations within the network’s coverage area by July 2022.
“Access to reliable broadband service is essential for Huron County to maintain our vibrant, connected, and prosperous community,” said Huron County Warden, Glen McNeil. “I’m encouraged to see this exciting project moving forward, further ensuring everyone in our community has access to highspeed internet to connect, learn, and do business.”
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.
Quotes:
“Tuckersmith Communications is pleased to partner with SWIFT in Huron County. As we know access to reliable high-speed internet is more important now than ever before. This partnership will allow us to extend our fibre network to many underserved rural residents throughout the communities that we serve.”
– Ian Mathew, Tuckersmith Communications Board Chair
Additional Information:
Quick Facts:
- SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, has committed a combined investment of $15 million to bring high-speed internet service to more than 1,866 underserved homes and businesses in Huron County.
- In total, SWIFT has awarded 97contracts 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 57projects 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
