Nearly 2,900 homes and businesses in Wellington County will be getting improved high-speed internet thanks to a provincial program.
Services will be available throughout the townships of Guelph Eramosa, Centre Wellington, Mapleton, and Wellington North as part of the provincial government’s Rural Economic Development (RED) program to help rural communities across the province attract investment, create jobs and boost economic development.
The total value of the newly announced projects is approximately $12 million which includes nearly $4.5 million in contributions from the service providers to fund the remaining cost of their projects.
The announcement of expansion in Wellington County came from Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT), a non-profit regional broadband project with a plan to achieve a $209 million broadband expansion plan that enhances access to high-speed connectivity in eligible funding areas across Southwestern Ontario.
“Reliable internet throughout Wellington County’s urban and rural communities is essential for both residents and businesses,” said Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton in a press release.
A total of $7.5 million in provincial and federal funding has been awarded by SWIFT to support four broadband infrastructure projects across 15 underserved communities within Wellington County.
“We have been working towards this action for some time now and it is great to see this next phase of infrastructure being built in our communities,” commented Councillor George Bridge, Economic Development Chair of the Western Ontario Wardens` Caucus and SWIFT Board Member.
“SWIFT, and the results from this partnership will not only benefit residents but will also help our businesses be more competitive, innovative and connected both locally and internationally.”
SWIFT will grant service provider Cogeco Connexion approximately $4.5 million to use fibre cabling along over 112 km of underserved roads in the townships of Guelph Eramosa and Centre Wellington.
The newly expanded fibre optic network will connect approximately 1,950 homes and businesses in the communities of Eden Mills, Brucedale, Centre Inn, Everton, Oustic, Simpson Corners, Shands, Spier, Pine Meadows, Maple Leaf and Belwood.
Services will be available mid-2021 for the residents of Eden Mills with the remaining project areas expected to be up and running by late 2021. The total collective value of the fibre-to-the-home projects is estimated at $7.4 million.
Another $1.7 million in funding has also been awarded to EH!tel Networks to support a hybrid project which will use a combination of both fibre and wireless technologies to significantly expand broadband access to portions of Inverhaugh, Ponsonby and Ariss, providing high-speed connectivity to more than 670 residents.
The total project cost is approximately $2.6 million and will require the service provider to install fibre-optic lines along 33 kilometres of underserved roads within the Townships of Guelph Eramosa and Centre Wellington. EH!tel Networks’ project is expected to be completed by mid-2021.
NFTC will also receive $1.3 million in funding to deploy fibre-cabling along more than 41 km of underserviced roads in the Townships of Mapleton, Wellington North and Centre Wellington to deliver a fibre-to-the-home solution to eligible residents. The total project cost is approximately $2 million and is expected to be up and running by the end of 2020 with direct fibre connections available to approximately 270 homes and businesses within the communities of Yatton, Creek Bank and Goldstone.
The projects are part of SWIFT’s $209 million Southwestern Ontario broadband expansion plan.
