DUFFERIN COUNTY, Ont. — Rural broadband funding organization Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology announced today Bell Canada has begun construction on a $829,000 project to increase access to broadband services in Dufferin County.
First announced in September 2020, the project will see Bell install 17 kilometres of fibre to bring improved broadband services to more than 300 homes and businesses in the community of Mansfield, about an hour’s drive north of Toronto. The joint venture between SWIFT and Bell is expected to be completed with services fully available by early 2022, says SWIFT’s press release.
“With shovels now in the ground and additional awarded projects slated to start construction later this year, residents in Dufferin County are now one step closer to greater access to high-speed connectivity,” said David Mayberry, SWIFT board chair, in the release.
“Bell’s goal is to advance how Canadians connect with each other and the world, so we are excited to have begun work to bring enhanced broadband connectivity to consumers and businesses in Mansfield,” said Bell senior vice-president Bruce Furlong.
The Bell fibre build is part of a larger $10.4-million funding investment in broadband upgrades in Dufferin County, which SWIFT announced last fall. Four other fibre project contracts were awarded to North Frontenac Telephone Corporation, Eh!tel Networks, Cogeco Connexion and Rogers Communications. In total, the five fibre-to-the-home projects will bring high-speed Internet to more than 1,660 underserved households and businesses throughout Dufferin County.
“SWIFT projects are now rolling out across Southwestern Ontario at an accelerated rate in efforts to bring more residents online and up-to-speed as quickly as possible,” said Barry Field, executive director, SWIFT.
For more information about all of the approved broadband projects funded through the SWIFT program, please click here.
