LUCAN, Ont. — The government of Ontario today outlined some more details of its previously announced $315 million plan to improve and expand wired and wireless connectivity across the province.
The five-year plan, said government officials today in Lucan, a small town north of London, includes a $150 million commitment for a new broadband fund for projects to begin by 2020-21, “which will leverage private sector funding along with support from other levels of government, to drive investment and expansion to unserved and underserved communities,” reads the province’s press release. The government also hopes that influx of new public money will help “generate up to $1 billion in total investment over five years, resulting in new connections for up to 220,000 homes and businesses.”
The provincial plan says those looking for funding must be providing speeds of at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. The government says 12% of Ontario households are not served by an operator delivering those speeds and 9% of Ontario’s roadways are not covered by cellular service.
The province also said in its plan it will look to lower the rates hydro companies charge to attach telecom gear to their utility poles. “Ontario has the highest hydro pole attachment rates in Canada,” reads the provincial plan. “Attachment rates are annual fees paid by telecommunications companies to attach equipment to hydro poles owned by utility companies. These costs are a financial barrier to expansion in rural, remote and northern areas.”
Ontario has already committed $71 million toward Eastern Ontario Regional Network project and $63.7 million to the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) project in Southwestern Ontario, the Niagara Region and the Town of Caledon.
“Too many people, especially those living in rural and remote communities, do not have access to reliable internet access," reads the quote in the press release attributed to Laurie Scott, provincial Minister of Infrastructure. “In our increasingly digital world, being disconnected means being disadvantaged. This must change."
Click here for the province’s full plan.
“We are pleased the Ontario Government has announced its plan to help expand broadband and cellular access to rural, remote and northern Ontario communities,” said Jay Thomson, CEO of the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance, in a release.
“We are particularly pleased the Ontario Government recognizes that its high hydro pole attachment rates create a financial barrier to broadband expansion in the province and that it is therefore committing to review those rates to optimize connectivity and private sector investment. This is a matter we, and others, have asked the Ontario Government to address on many occasions.”
