(Essex, ON) December 6, 2021 – SWIFT is pleased to report that TekSavvy Solutions has begun construction in Essex County on a fibre-to-the-home network to bring fast, reliable internet connectivity to 946 underserved households in the community of Stoney Point.
“Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction to a more connected Southwestern Ontario and together in partnership with local internet service providers, such as TekSavvy Solutions, we will continue to work to drive broadband expansion across our region’s rural and underserved areas,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “With the construction of new broadband infrastructure underway in Stoney Point, residents in the community will soon have access to high-speed internet so that they can connect, work from home and participate in online learning without compromise.”
The $3.7 million broadband project will service 27 kilometres of roadway with fibre-optic cabling along the Lake St. Clair Shoreline and down County Road 2 between Deerbrook and Lighthouse Cove to provide more homes and businesses within the area with access to high-speed internet.
“Broadband expansion is good news for families, farms and businesses in Stoney Point,” 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 in Stoney Point 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.”
Construction of the new high-speed network is forecasted to be completed with service fully available to all residents within the SWIFT funded project area by mid 2022.
“The residents of Stoney Point are looking forward to the completion of this project and access to affordable, high-speed internet. This essential service will make a tremendous difference to families and businesses in this important agricultural community,” said Gary McNamara, Warden of Essex County and Chair of the SWIFT Board.
Earlier this year, SWIFT also announced that Teksavvy Solutions had broken ground on a high-speed fibre-optic project in Lighthouse Cove to bring improved broadband service to 540 additional underserved homes and businesses within Essex County.
To learn more, please visit www.swiftruralbroadband.ca
Additional Information:
Quick Facts:
- Together with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, SWIFT will deliver a combined broadband infrastructure investment of $19 million to bring high-speed internet to more than 5,350 underserved homes and businesses within Essex 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 9 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
