HALIFAX – Provincial Crown corporation Develop Nova Scotia today announced it is expanding the Satellite Internet Service Rebate program it announced in July to help more people in the province get access to Internet services faster, as well as expanding the scope of three fibre-to-the-home projects.
When the Satellite Internet Service Rebate program was announced July 29, 3,700 homes and businesses were eligible to claim up to $1,000 for costs associated with setting up satellite service meeting the CRTC’s minimum speed targets of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload.
“Starting today, August 11, the program will accept applications from residents and business owners who are not expected to gain access to wired or wireless internet until after December 31, 2023,” a press release explains. “The program expansion is expected to help about 2,200 homes and businesses, in addition to the estimated 3,700 originally announced.”
The program was previously available only to those homes and businesses without another planned Internet service solution, but is now available in other areas, including Pictou County, which “were not expected to gain access to high-speed internet until at least 2024,” the release says.
“Our government committed to extending internet access to every household in Nova Scotia and closing the connection gaps,” said Susan Corkum-Greek, the province’s economic development minister, in the release. “This expansion is about levelling the playing field so that Nova Scotians who are the furthest out from gaining access to internet can get connected more quickly.”
In an emailed update on Develop Nova Scotia’s Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, the Crown corporation announced it is also expanding three existing fibre-to-the-home projects.
“High-speed internet will reach another 40 Nova Scotia homes and businesses through scope expansion projects with Seaside Communications and Bell as part of the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative,” the email says. (Seaside was bought by Rogers last year.)
The expansion projects announced today include:
- Somes Lake Lane, Canaan, Yarmouth County – expansion includes five addresses with service provided by Bell. This project has already been completed. For more, please click here.
- Morrison Road, Mira Road Community, Cape Breton Regional Municipality – expansion includes 26 addresses with service provided by Seaside. This project is expected to be completed between January and March 2023. For more, please click here.
- Shieling Drive, Marion Bridge, Cape Breton Regional Municipality – expansion includes nine addresses with service provide by Seaside. This project is expected to be completed between January and March 2023. For more, please click here.
