The federal government and Quebec detailed its ongoing plan to expand high-speed internet in the province. Today’s announcement says $6.1 million will be invested for Cogeco to roll out high-speed internet to 680 homes by September 2022 (works out to $8,970 per home).
Households in the Fjord-du-Saguenay RCM, including municipalities of L’Anse-Saint-Jean, Petit-Saguenay, Rivière-Éternité and Saint-Félix-d’Otis, and in the city of Saguenay are part of the Cogeco high speed internet roll out.
About $5.6 million of the funds will go to Cogeco from Canada and Quebec, to accelerate the rollout of high-speed internet. “Over the next few weeks, Cogeco will take an inventory of the targeted regions to ensure that no household will be left without service,” said Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Monday.
“It’s inconceivable that in 2021, children aren’t able to connect to their online courses or families feel pressure to move because they lack access to high-speed Internet. Canada–Quebec Operation High Speed is meeting an important need in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region,” proclaimed Pablo Rodriguez, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Quebec Lieutenant and Member of Parliament for Honoré-Mercier.
Operation High Speed will connect 150,000 households in Quebec, through a total investment of $1.65 billion from Canada and Quebec, which includes partnerships with six major telcos for the roll out.
Those in rural areas seeking high-speed internet can sign up for Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet today, as coverages continue to expand at a rapid pace. Hardware costs (satellite dish and router) are $649 CAD upfront, to go with a $129 CAD/month service fee, offering download speeds of about 200 Mbps and beyond.
