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(Perth, ON) August 16, 2022 – SWIFT today announced high-speed fibre-optic internet service is now available to an additional 114 homes and businesses in Perth County.

In partnership with SWIFT, Tuckersmith Communications has completed construction of a 32 kilometre fibre-optic network in the municipality of West Perth to bring high-speed internet connectivity to many more residents living and working in the communities of Slabtown, Bornholm and Willow Grove.

“Providing equitable access to high-speed connectivity is key to supporting the social and economic growth of small and rural communities and we are proud to be working with local internet service providers to deliver better and faster broadband connectivity to many more residents living in Perth County,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “With 3 out of 5 awarded fibre-optic broadband projects now complete and construction of the remaining awarded projects underway, we are pleased with the progress that is being made to further expand high-speed internet access across Perth County through the SWIFT initiative.”

“Our government is getting it done and delivering on our commitment to provide access to high-speed internet throughout rural Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Projects like these in Perth County that connect more communities to high-speed internet, are crucial to building a stronger Ontario by helping families and farmers stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access supports they need while providing a much-needed boost to the local economies.”

Construction is also underway to expand high-speed broadband service in North Perth and Perth East, as Mornington Communications breaks ground on a fibre-to-the-home network to service 273 homes and businesses located within the communities of Britton and Tralee.  The high-speed internet project is forecasted to be complete with service fully available to all locations within the network’s coverage area by December 2022.

“We are excited to see great progress on the construction of fibre optic networks in Perth County.” said Jim Aitcheson, Warden of Perth County. “This is much needed progress toward greater connectivity through reliable high-speed internet and will benefit both residents and businesses across our vibrant rural region.”

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.

For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca/projects

Quotes:

“Tuckersmith Communications is pleased to partner with SWIFT in Perth 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.”
– Brandon Coleman, Tuckersmith Communications, Board Chair

“The demand for reliable Internet has exponentially increased over the last couple of years. Mornington is passionate about connecting local communities; the partnership with SWIFT and the Governments of Ontario and Canada means we will be able to do just that! We look forward to connecting the 273 farms, homes and businesses in the Britton project area.”
– Ken Naylor, General Manager, Mornington Communications

 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 51 projects in the construction phase and 39 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