HALIFAX – Develop Nova Scotia today provided an update on the progress of the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, indicating 273 more homes and businesses in the province will gain access to high-speed Internet through a scope expansion project with Eastlink.
Today’s announcement will benefit 24 communities in small pockets around Nova Scotia. The projects “are all wired-to-the-home/business solutions (coax or fibre – depending on what infrastructure exists currently near each location) and work is already underway in all areas,” a press release says.
The communities to benefit include North Chegoggin, Greenville, North Kingston, South Greenwood, Berwick West, Coldbrook, Benjamin Bridge, Sweets Corner, Riverhead, Whynotts Settlement, Borgies Point, The Lodge, Middlewood, Hacketts Cove, Lakelands, North Beaver Bank, Naugle, Chezzetcook, Dutch Settlement, Lower East Chezzetcook, Lesterdale, Louisdale, Woodbine and Georges River.
Develop Nova Scotia expects the projects to provide access to high-speed Internet before the end of 2023, but an exact date is unknown at this point. “The provider is currently looking at technical and make-ready requirements and will be able to provide finer detail on schedule once those factors are known,” the release says.
The projects announced today are being funded through a $1.6-million contribution from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust and a $393,000 investment from Eastlink.
“With the additional high-speed internet coverage provided by Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust projects announced to date, the municipal-led project in Pictou and Bell’s Wireless Home Internet Service, it is expected that 99.5 per cent of Nova Scotia’s homes and businesses will have high-speed access by the end of 2023,” the press release says.
“Develop Nova Scotia is working with internet service providers to identify solutions for the remaining 3,700 underserved homes and businesses across the province, of which about 1,000 do not have commercial power.”
“New connections are happening daily and by the end of June 2022 about 90 per cent of Nova Scotians will have access to high-speed internet,” said Jennifer Angel, president and CEO of Develop Nova Scotia, in the release.
“Together with our internet service provider partners, we are working hard to ensure projects underway are delivered on time and to identify solutions for the remaining homes and businesses. The numbers will continue to be small from here forward, but no less important for those residents and business owners.”
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