Feds and Ontario to Spend $97 Million to Expand High-Speed Internet

The federal and Ontario governments have announced a joint investment of over $97 million to expand high-speed Internet access to underserved areas in Ontario, including Indigenous communities.

Back in July 2021, both governments unveiled a Canada–Ontario broadband partnership to support large-scale, fibre-based projects, aiming to provide high-speed Internet access to nearly 280,000 households across Ontario. This historic agreement is supported by a joint federal–provincial investment of more than $1.2 billion.

“High-speed Internet is no longer considered just a luxury. The federal funding committed today will bring reliable high-speed Internet to more than 18,600 underserved homes (works out to about $5,200/home) in communities across Northern Ontario. Communities large and small need to have a reliable connection so they can grow their potential in this digital world,” stated Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development in an announcement made on late Monday.

One has to wonder why these governments don’t consider SpaceX Starlink as a more affordable solution to get high-speed internet to rural and remote areas, instead of laying down fibre.

Hutchings and members of the Ontario government revealed the funding for ROCK Networks, a PomeGran group company.

This project aims to connect more than 60 communities along the north shore of Lake Huron, from Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie and on Manitoulin Island, benefiting over 18,600 households, including over 2,500 Indigenous households.

The feds aim to ensure all residents have access to high-speed Internet by 2030, with 98% of Canadians connected by 2026. The Ontario government is also working towards providing reliable high-speed Internet access to every community in the province by the end of 2025.