OTTAWA — The federal government announced today it is providing more than $41 million in funding through its Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) rapid response stream for 21 projects that will bring high-speed Internet to 2,676 households located across more than 25 communities in rural Alberta.
A breakdown of the various projects, including the ISPs involved and the funding being allocated to each project, is available in a backgrounder here. A breakdown was not provided for how many households will be connected in each project.
According to the project breakdown, ATG Arrow Technology Group Limited Partnership is receiving a total of approximately $23.6 million in UBF funding to undertake 10 broadband projects serving the Alberta communities of Sunchild First Nation, O’Chiese, Fort McMurray #468 First Nation, Peavine Metis Settlement, Duncan’s First Nation, Driftpile Cree Nation, Sputinow, Bigstone Cree (Jean Baptiste Gambler No. 183), Montana and Zama City.
Accelerate Communications is receiving a total of $3.4 million for two broadband projects to connect the communities of Bushe River and Meander River.
Beaver Lake Cree Nation is receiving $2.6 million in UBF funding to connect its community’s residents to high-speed Internet.
Canadasurfs High Speed Internet is receiving $307,547 to connect homes in Alberta Beach, Sunset Point, Yellowstone, Val Quentin and rural areas near the Hamlet of Gunn.
GPNetworks is being provided with $609,430 in UBF money to connect households in Bezanson and Rio Bend Estates.
Mighty Peace Wireless will receive $521,990 to bring high-speed connectivity to homes in Bluesky and Whitelaw.
Missing Link Internet will receive $388,520 to connect homes in Sunbreaker Cove and Kayton Estates of Red Deer County.
QFLAN Systems Group Inc. is receiving $1.3 million to connect Mikisew Cree residents to broadband.
Stoney Tribal Administration, operating as Stoney Nakoda Telecom, is receiving $2.9 million to bring high-speed Internet to homes in Morley, Eden Valley, Benchlands and the Ghost Lake Reserve lands of the Stoney Nakoda.
Yellowhead County is receiving $4.5 million to connect residents in rural areas in Yellowhead County.
And last but not least, Xplornet Communications Inc. is receiving $1.8 million in UBF funding to bring high-speed Internet to homes in the community of Sundre.
Xplornet issued a press release this afternoon to say it is connecting more than 1,300 homes and businesses in Sundre to a next-generation fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network. (Xplornet’s press release did not disclose the amount of the company’s private investment in the project.)
The first phase of the project, which will enable over 100 homes and businesses to connect to the new FTTP network, is expected to be completed in June 2022, according to the release. “The remaining phases of the project will be delivered over the course of 2022.”
“Once the project is completed, Sundre residents and businesses will be able to benefit from gigabit speeds on a fibre network designed to meet their connectivity needs today and into the future,” Xplornet’s press release reads.
“We’re proud to continue investing in the province and to work with the Government of Canada to ensure that all rural Albertans can experience the benefits of fast and reliable Internet connectivity,” said Bill Macdonald, Xplornet executive vice-president of business development, in the release.
“This is especially important as more of the world moves online, including how we learn, work and connect with family and friends. At Xplornet, we are committed to connecting rural Albertans to what matters through this new fibre network.”
