WYOMING, ON – Connecting Windsor-Essex (CW-E) has officially joined the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) initiative.
CW-E, which began in 1994 as an information technology project, represents broader public sector organizations in the Windsor-Essex area of Ontario.
“Ultra-high speed Internet connectivity is vital to quality of life in our communities and our region’s public sector institutions are important partners as we work to connect everyone who calls our region home,” said SWIFT board chair Gerry Marshall, in the news release. “SWIFT owes its success to the leadership and support of our members and we are grateful to receive the support of CW-E as they officially join SWIFT on behalf of their membership in Windsor-Essex.”
“These are exciting times for us,” added CW-E CEO Bob Campbell. “The CRTC recently declared broadband internet a basic telecommunications service. For too long, rural and underserved communities across Canada have not been able to participate in our digital economy. The CRTC decision, along with support from SWIFT, will help to close the digital divide.”
SWIFT aims to build an affordable, open-access, ultra-high-speed fibre-optic regional broadband network in Southwestern Ontario, Caledon and Niagara Region.
In addition to leadership from the county members of the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus and investment from the federal and provincial governments, the Region of Niagara, Town of Caledon, City of Orillia, and the Region of Waterloo are also supporting the project. Non-municipal members include Grey Bruce Health Services, Georgian College, and the Stratford Economic Enterprise Development Corporation, while First Nations supporters include the Southern First Nations Secretariat, the Chippewa’s of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, the Chippewa’s of the Thames First Nation and Walpole Island First Nation.
