Four internet service providers will be entrusted with $61 million from the federal and Ontario governments to provide high-speed internet access to more than 16,000 homes in rural Ontario, according to a Friday press release.
The Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre will partner with Celerity Telecom and TBayTel to provide high-speed internet access to the communities of Ignace, Amethyst, Harbour, Gillies, Gorham, Hymers, Jelly, Kakabeka Falls, Millar, Moose Hill, O’Connor, Rosslyn Village, and Wild Goose.
The Keewaytinook Okimakanak First Nation will partner with K-Net to provide access to Frenchman’s Head, Kejick Bay, and Whitefish Bay.
And Bell will be tasked with connecting Central Patricia, Ear Falls, Madsen, Pickle Lake, Beardmore (Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek), Charlton, Earlton, Englehart, Geraldton, Holtyre, Hornepayne, Iroquois Falls, Larder Lake, Latchford, Little Longlac, Longlac, Manitouwadge, Matheson, Monteith, Nellie Lake, Porquis Junction, Ramore, Thornloe, Tomstown, Val Gagné, Virginiatown, Callander, East Ferris, Hornell Heights, Nipissing, Nipissing Beach, Nipissing Junction, Powassan, North Bay, and Trout Creek.
The funding comes from the Universal Broadband Fund, which partnered with Ontario to provide funding to close the digital divide in the province by 2025.
