LONDON — Non-profit regional rural broadband project SWIFT (Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology) made a slew of announcements Monday that will see $19 million in provincial and federal funding invested to increase access to broadband services in several Southwestern Ontario communities.
SWIFT is making the investments through the New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund (NBCF-SCF), a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program, and in partnership with its member municipalities.
Starting with its announcement for Wellington County, SWIFT has signed agreements with Cogeco Connexion, EH!tel Networks and North Frontenac Telephone Corporation (NFTC) to expand high-speed broadband infrastructure access to nearly 2,900 households and businesses across 17 communities throughout the townships of Guelph Eramosa, Centre Wellington, Mapleton and Wellington North. The total value of the newly announced broadband infrastructure expansion plan is approximately $12 million, including nearly $4.5 million in contributions from the service providers.
In Lambton County, SWIFT has awarded contracts to Execulink Telecom and Cogeco Connexion to expand high-speed fibre-to-the-home broadband services to more than 3,900 households and businesses across 17 communities in Lambton Shores, the Town of Plympton-Wyoming, St. Clair Township, and Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. The total value of these newly announced projects is approximately $11.4 million, including $4.9 million in contributions from the service providers.
Finally, in Norfolk County, SWIFT has signed agreements with Rogers Communications and Execulink Telecom to support the construction of three fibre-to-the-home broadband projects. Delivering Internet speeds up to 1 gigabit per second, these fibre networks will increase access to broadband services for more than 3,900 homes and businesses within Norfolk County in the areas of Long Point, Old Cut, Walsh, Turkey Point, Normandale, Wilsonville, Boston, Bealton, Dundurn, Waterford, Townsend Centre, Villa Nova and Bloomsburg. The total value of these projects is approximately $11.5 million, including $6.2 million in contributions from the service providers.
More information about the individual announcements can be read in the news releases.
