SIMCOE COUNTY, Ont. — Following last week’s announcement by the Ontario government that construction has begun on rural broadband projects in Simcoe County, Ont., funded through the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology program, SWIFT today provided details on which projects are underway.
Bell Canada has broken ground “on three fibre-optic projects to bring greater connectivity to more than 10,600 homes and businesses throughout the Townships of Clearview, Adjala-Tosorontio, Essa, Springwater, Oro-Medonte, Tiny, Tay, Severn, Ramara and within the Towns of Midland, Penetanguishene and Innisfil,” reads a SWIFT press release. These projects are expected to be completed by June 2022.
Rogers Communications has begun construction “on a fibre-optic network in the Township of Clearview to connect more than 430 homes and businesses,” the release adds. This project, which will bring service to those in and around the community of New Lowell specifically, is expected to be completed with service fully available by March 2022, according to the release.
In addition, SWIFT announced Vianet, “which began construction in November to service 74 kilometres of roadway throughout the Towns of New Tecumseth and Bradford West Gwillimbury and within the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio to bring service to 1,215 households, has started to turn-up service in portions of the project area along White Pine Trail, Sugar Maple Lane, as well as down Concession 7, Concession 8 and 5 Sideroad Adjala.” Vianet’s fibre network is expected to be fully completed by March 2022.
“We are very pleased to see projects rolling out quickly across Simcoe County, with some residents already starting to be brought online,” said Barry Field, executive director of SWIFT, in the release. “With five out of six awarded projects now well underway, we would like to thank the Internet service providers for their hard work and dedication, as we continue to work together in collaboration to increase access to high-speed broadband throughout Simcoe County and across Southwestern Ontario.”
The sixth SWIFT-funded project in Simcoe County was awarded to Cogeco Connexion in December 2020, along with the others. No information about when Cogeco’s project is expected to get underway was provided in SWIFT’s press release today. According to the “Approved Projects” page on SWIFT’s website, the anticipated completion date for the project is December 2022.
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