WYOMING, ON – Bruce Power, the world's largest operating nuclear facility, is now a member of the SouthWestern Integrated Fibre Technology Inc. (SWIFT) initiative.
By joining SWIFT, Bruce Power is investing in a collective broadband initiative that is funding the construction of an ultra-high-speed fibre-optic regional broadband network for residents in Southwestern Ontario, Caledon and the Niagara Region. This partnership follows $180 million in combined investments by the federal and provincial governments and over $17 million in investments by municipalities across the region.
“We live in an increasingly digital world where access to high-speed networks means access to incredible opportunities for innovation and growth,” said SWIFT board chair Gerry Marshall, in the news release. “By working together, we can create the aggregated demand we need to accelerate fibre diffusion and remove barriers to economic development, e-commerce, education, employment and health care.”
Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is based in Bruce County, Ontario.
“Becoming a member of SWIFT will help our communities – and our economy – truly reach their potential,” added Bruce Power VP and CIO Sarah Shortreed. “Widespread access to broadband Internet, especially in the rural areas of southwestern Ontario, is incredibly important to families and businesses, as technology becomes ever-more necessary in our daily lives.”
SWIFT membership is open to any community or organization in southwestern Ontario that needs connectivity to any of its locations. Members benefit from SWIFT’s procurement expertise, including aggregated demand, negotiated rates, and support in preparing RFPs for broadband services. As a buying group, SWIFT says that it also ensures greater competition between telecom service providers which will lead to better services at lower prices in member communities.
