(Niagara, ON) December 16, 2021 – SWIFT announced that construction has begun in the Niagara Region to bring fibre-to-the-home connectivity to 4,881 homes and businesses throughout Fort Erie, Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls, Pelham and Wainfleet.
“SWIFT is proud to partner with both Niagara Regional Broadband Network and Bell Canada to bring greater connectivity to the Niagara Region, as these fibre-optic broadband projects are an important community investment that will benefit the local economy and will provide new and greater opportunities to residents,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “As the demand for increased access to high-speed internet continues to grow, it’s great to see construction rolling out to deliver improved services throughout the Niagara Region and across Southwestern Ontario.”
“Broadband expansion is good news for families, farms and businesses in these communities,” 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 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.”
“On behalf of Regional Council, I want to expression my enthusiasm for the three projects which are being announced here today. We know that access to reliable high-speed internet is a critical tool for businesses across Niagara, and it has only become more prominent since the beginning of the pandemic. Broadband expansion will help more rural companies access customers around the world, while also lettering individuals connect more reliably with friends and loved ones as we continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic,” said Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley.
In partnership with SWIFT, Niagara Regional Broadband Network (NRBN) has begun construction to service more than 72 kilometres of underserved roadway within the Town of Pelham and the Township of Wainfleet. The $5.1 million fibre-to-the-home network will provide 633 homes and businesses between the communities of Fenwick, Welland and Wainfleet with improved access to high-speed internet. Service is expected to be fully available to all locations within the project’s fibre footprint by December 2022.
“Fibre optic Internet isn’t something that’s available everywhere, it needs to be planned, built, and installed for homeowners to gain access to reliable gigabit speeds. NRBN is excited to bring fast, ultra-reliable Fibre Internet to rural Pelham through our work with SWIFT. Please reach out to make sure your home is connected,” said Geoff Heinen, President, NRBN.
SWIFT is also pleased to report Bell Canada has begun construction on two fibre-to-the-home projects in the Niagara Region to bring high-speed internet access to 4,248 underserved homes and businesses by the summer of 2022.
The first project will service 137 kilometres of roadway to connect a number of dispersed communities with a majority of the project set to bring service to underserved areas surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake and parts of Chippawa, a small community located within the City of Niagara Falls. The project also includes areas surrounding the communities of Pelham, St. Anns and north Beamsville. Once complete, the $5.3 million high-speed broadband network will deliver greater connectivity to 2,014 homes and businesses.
The second project will collectively expand broadband service along 134 kilometres of roadway to bring fast, reliable internet connectivity to 2,234 locations throughout the southern Niagara Region, including areas in West Lincoln, Fort Erie, Port Colborne and Wainfleet. The $7.5 million project will service locations surrounding the community of Wellandport in West Lincoln, as well as in Fort Erie between Fort Erie North and Douglastown, primarily adjacent to the Niagara River Parkway and in underserved areas surrounding Point Abino. The network will also bring improved service to Port Colborne between Bethel and Lorraine, the underserved area surrounding Sherkston and Shisler Point and will also encompass a large area within the Township of Wainfleet to service areas between Perry, Wainfleet, Long Beach and Burnaby.
For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca/projects
Additional Information:
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 more than 5,646 underserved homes and businesses within the Niagara Region.
- Three out of four SWIFT awarded high-speed fibre-optic projects in Niagara Region have now begun construction. The remaining project which will bring greater connectivity to 765 homes and businesses throughout underserved areas within the Town of Grimsby and throughout the Township of West Lincoln, is forecasted to begin construction early 2022.
- 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 10 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
