WATERLOO REGION, Ont. — Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) announced today construction is underway on a rural broadband project in the Region of Waterloo that will bring high-speed Internet service to 92 homes and businesses in the Township of Woolwich.
EH!tel Networks was awarded the contract and $584,000 in funding by SWIFT in December 2020. The ISP is constructing a 14-kilometre fibre broadband network to bring high-speed Internet service to residents living between the rural communities of Weissenburg and Maryhill.
Construction of the new high-speed network started in January, according to SWIFT’s press release today, and is expected to be completed with full service available to all residents located within the project’s fibre footprint by June 2022.
“EH!tel is proud to partner with SWIFT to connect underserved communities in the Region of Waterloo. The project will lead to new partnerships, stimulate economic growth, create employment, and keep families connected,” said Antonius Peeters, CEO of EH!tel Networks, in the press release.
The total value of the project is $874,000, according to information on SWIFT’s approved projects webpage.
A separate press release from the Ontario government says the federal and provincial governments are each providing up to $292,000 to help fund the project.
In partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, SWIFT has committed a combined investment of $12 million to bring high-speed Internet service to more than 1,300 underserved homes and businesses throughout the Region of Waterloo, SWIFT’s press release says.
The additional broadband projects in Waterloo Region, which were awarded by SWIFT in December 2020 to North Frontenac Telephone Company, Bell Canada and Rogers Communications, began construction last summer.
