HASTINGS COUNTY, ON – Bell Aliant, Cogeco Cable and Utilities Kingston have been awarded contracts to expand high-speed fibre internet connections at more than 50 business parks and clusters across rural Eastern Ontario.
The business park project, valued at about $8.9 million, is the latest phase of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) project, a $170 million initiative to expand rural broadband throughout the region. Created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus, the project is supported by federal, provincial, and municipal funding, and private sector investment.
The companies are building the new services off of their existing infrastructure, as well as off of the 5,500-kilometre fibre-optic backbone that was built through EORN. Construction of the business parks is expected to be completed this year, and a range of speeds and services will be available to serve the needs of business customers in these locations.
"EORN is a key economic development tool for the region," said EOWC chair Rick Philips, in the announcement. "Expanding high-capacity, high-speed internet fibre to these business parks will help our communities to attract and retain local businesses."
