(Niagara, ON, ON) April 25, 2023 – Today SWIFT announced that high-speed fibre-optic internet service is now available to more than 675 homes and businesses in the Niagara Region.
“Partnering with local internet service providers to expand connectivity is key to delivering on our program’s commitment to increase access to high-speed internet service throughout Southwestern Ontario and within the Niagara Region,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “High-speed internet is a valuable resource needed to support economic growth and social well being in our communities and SWIFT is pleased to be working with Niagara Regional Broadband Network to expand fibre-optic connectivity throughout the Town of Pelham and within the Township of Wainfleet in Niagara. With the completion of the newly established infrastructure now in-service more residents and businesses can benefit from having access to a fast reliable internet connection.”
As part of SWIFT’s regional broadband expansion plan, local internet service provider Niagara Regional Broadband Network (NRBN) was awarded funding to construct a fibre-optic network, spanning along more than 68 kilometres of underserved roadway, to increase access to high-speed internet service throughout the communities of Chantler, Becketts Bridge and O’Reilly’s Bridge.
“Our government continues to deliver on its commitment to expand access to high-speed internet to communities across the province,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By building new broadband infrastructure in Niagara Region, we’re helping to build Ontario and strengthen rural communities. This investment is helping people stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access the supports they need while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.”
“We know reliable internet access is a gateway to growth in rural Ontario,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “This new expansion of rural broadband in the Town of Pelham will connect more families and businesses to high-speed internet. I know constituents in Niagara West will gladly welcome this new SWIFT project.”
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Vance Badawey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement will ensure that homes, businesses, and farms in the Niagara Region can connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”
“Access to a high-speed internet connection is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity” said Chris Bittle, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament for St. Catharines. “By investing in projects like this, our government is supporting rural Ontarians to connect with family, keep up at school, run a business and access essential medical services. It is more important than ever for Canadians to have access to high-speed internet and our government is committed to building the infrastructure they need to be connected.”
Residents located within the SWIFT funded project area that are interested in subscribing to the newly available service can now sign up with NRBN to receive fibre-optic connectivity to their homes and businesses.
“It’s been a pleasure working alongside SWIFT to expand our fibre optic footprint in Wainfleet and Pelham and bring top-notch Internet access, IP TV, and VoIP home phone to hundreds of homes. NRBN began work on our fibre-to-the-home expansion in 2019 to bring fibre Internet to underserviced communities. Reliable Internet connectivity is one of the key components to helping our community develop in an ever-growing digital landscape, and we’re happy to be a part of Niagara’s future,” said Geoff Heinen, President, NRBN.
To learn more about NRBN’s high-speed internet services, please visit www.nrbn.ca or call 1.877. 331.6726.
Today’s announcement is part of SWIFT’s $270 million regional broadband expansion plan that will bring high-speed internet access to nearly 64,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario.
For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca.
Quick Facts:
SWIFT in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors has committed a combined investment of $21.2 million to bring high-speed internet service to 5,690 underserved homes and businesses throughout the Niagara Region.
In total, SWIFT has awarded 97 contracts to support the expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout Southwestern Ontario to bring nearly 64,000 homes and businesses across the region access to high-speed internet service. Local projects are underway, with 28 projects in the construction phase and 69 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
