(Grey County, ON) December 9, 2022 – SWIFT is pleased to report 2,570 additional homes and businesses throughout the counties of Grey and Bruce now have access to high-speed internet service.
As part of Southwestern Ontario’s broadband expansion plan, SWIFT announced the completion of three high-speed infrastructure projects that collectively span over 90 kilometres of roadway to bring greater connectivity to small and rural communities across the two counties.
“Regardless of the size of a community or its geographical location, having access to a reliable internet connection is now essential for residents, farmers, and businesses,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “As we mark the completion of three SWIFT funded projects in Grey-Bruce, we’re pleased to be working together with local internet service providers to further expand high-speed internet service to residents living and working in small and rural communities across Southwestern Ontario.”
“I’m proud that our government continues to deliver on our commitment to expand access to high-speed internet in rural communities across the province,” said Lisa M. Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and MPP for Huron – Bruce. “Building this new broadband infrastructure in Grey and Bruce counties is going to help build rural Ontario and strengthen communities by helping people stay connected with loved ones and enable them to access supports they need. This critical infrastructure will have lasting benefits for our entire community.”
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement will ensure that thousands of homes, businesses, and farms in Grey and Bruce counties can connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”
“Raising a family and living or working in a rural community should not limit anyone to receiving internet access,” said Rick Byers, MPP Bruce – Grey – Owen Sound. “I’m really pleased to see these projects in our communities as it will help connect many more businesses and residents to the high-speed internet they need. Thank you to Minister Thompson for bringing this investment forward, an investment that will bring new opportunities for these areas.”
In partnership with SWIFT, EH!tel Networks has completed the construction of a high-speed network in Grey County to bring greater connectivity to the Municipality of West Grey and within the Township of Southgate. Through a combination of fibre and wireless technologies, EH!Tel Networks is now providing 1,007 homes and businesses located throughout the communities of Holstein, Varney, Orchardville, Maple Lane, Yeovil, Dromore, Tartan and Thistle with access to fast, reliable high-speed internet service.
In the Municipality of Meaford, GBTEL has completed construction of a fibre-optic network in the small rural community of Bognor to provide 64 homes and businesses located along Grey Road 29, Sideroad 6 and Sideroad 3 in Grey County with access to high-speed connectivity.
“SWIFT projects continue to bring highspeed broadband options to Grey County’s most rural communities. With the recent completion of projects by EH!tel Networks and GBTEL, hundreds more Grey County homes and businesses have the opportunity to enjoy reliable service for education, employment and other essential daily activities,” said Grey County Warden Brian Milne.
In Bruce County, Xplore (formerly known as Xplornet Communications) is now offering high-speed internet service to 1,499 homes and businesses in South Bruce Peninsula, as the service provider completes construction of a fibre-optic network in the community of Sauble Beach.
“Good, reliable internet access is essential for closing the digital divide in rural Bruce County. This recent expansion to connect homes and businesses in Sauble Beach is fantastic, offering improved connection for households and businesses to function in our economy with greater digital capacity,” says Bruce County Warden, Chris Peabody. “Together with Xplore and SWIFT, we’re making a difference in our community, here and now.”
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/projects
Quotes:
“Xplore is pleased to be part of today’s exciting announcement benefiting residents, businesses and tourists in Bruce County. Bringing Xplore Fibre to Sauble Beach is an important addition to our fibre network expansion plans already underway across Ontario. Access to gigabit-speed fibre Internet will enable residents to more fully enjoy rural living and provide local businesses with an enhanced opportunity to participate in the digital economy.”
– Allison Lenehan, President and CEO, Xplore Inc.
“GBTEL is pleased to support SWIFT in its announcement of the completion of the FTTH project in Bognor. This solution is a 100% locally built solution that will support the community of Bognor in Meaford for generations. Local technologies built by a local company will continue to drive local growth in Grey-Bruce and GBTEL cannot thank SWIFT enough for its support with this project.”
– Richard Gils, President, GBTEL.
Quick Facts:
- SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, has committed a combined investment of $32.5 million to bring high-speed internet service to 9,151 underserved homes and businesses throughout the counties of Grey and Bruce.
- 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 41 projects in the construction phase and 55 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
