SARNIA, Ont. and SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Bluewater Regional Networks, a network operator based in Sarnia, Ont., and 123Net, a Michigan colocation, network and voice services provider, announced today they have established a new Canada-U.S. cross-border network route providing high-speed and diverse connectivity between Toronto and Chicago.
The new network links Sarnia with Port Huron and Lapeer in Michigan, providing a unique border crossing between Toronto and Chicago without touching Detroit or Buffalo, which helps to address the growing but underserved regional needs between Ontario and Michigan with new high-speed connection capability and local diverse access points, explains the companies’ press release.
“The new connection with Bluewater both figuratively and literally opens the door for improved connectivity between the U.S. and Canada,” said Bob Evenson, 123Net’s carrier relations manager, in the release. “Truly effective internet and data connectivity requires multiple, redundant pathways.”
With the new connection, Bluewater’s customers will have access to 123Net’s Michigan network, and will be able to route traffic through the Detroit Internet Exchange, the largest fee-free exchange in the world, housed at 123Net’s Southfield headquarters, says the release.
An affiliate company within the Bluewater Power Group of Companies, which is the Sarnia-Lambton municipal power company, Bluewater Regional Networks was created in 2016 to provide digital infrastructure in the Sarnia-Lambton region and complete connectivity throughout Canada, says the release.
“Through innovation and vision, we originally evolved from our local utility offerings to provide telecommunications services including data, internet, wireless and advanced cloud services to underserved areas,” adds the release.
