Rogers and Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) have announced high-speed Internet will be coming to residents and businesses in Norfolk County, as part of a joint project with the Ontario and federal governments.
A new fibre optic cable network will be built by Rogers starting in early 2020, which will connect 71 kilometres of roads and reach over 2,100 homes and businesses in Wilsonville, Boston, Bealton, Dundrun, Waterford, Townsend Centre, Villa Nova, Bloomsburg and other underserved communities in the area.
Both Rogers and SWIFT will see a joint investment of $7.6 million, while Rogers says it will add an extra $800,000 “to cover ineligible project costs.”
“Since 1985, Rogers has invested over $60 billion to build world-class networks in Canada,” explains the company.
“SWIFT is proud to support the rollout of three new fibre networks within Norfolk County to deliver future-proofed broadband services to many more rural residents,” says David Mayberry, SWIFT Board Chair, in an issued statement. “Today’s announcement is a major milestone for SWIFT and our partners and is a welcome step in the right direction to increasing access to high-speed connectivity across Southwestern Ontario.”
Execulink Telecom also is a partner in expansion projects and will install fibre lines to service 58 kilometres of underserved roads, at an estimated cost of $3.9 million. High-speed connectivity will service over 1,830 homes and businesses in the areas of Long Point and Old Cut, Walsh, Turkey Point and Normandale, with services ready by early 2021.
SWIFT is a non-profit regional broadband project started by the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, aimed at constructing high-speed broadband networks across Southwestern Ontario, Caledon and the Niagara region.
Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2021 for the new fibre-to-the-home projects across the region.
