Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) has been awarded contracts to support five fibre-optic broadband projects in order to deliver high-speed internet to over 1,660 households and businesses across Dufferin County.
“Expanding high-speed broadband access to underserved areas within Southwestern Ontario is essential to the economic recovery and long-term prosperity of our region,” said SWIFT Board Chair, David Mayberry. “SWIFT, in partnership with the Government of Ontario and Canada, is proud to announce that funding has been awarded to support five fibre-to-the-home projects to expand broadband services across Dufferin County. The newly announced projects will assist in accelerating the rollout of high-speed internet to further support economic development within the region and continue to improve quality of life for our residents.”
Bell Canada will be installing an all-fibre network which will service approximately 17 kilometres of roadway in Mansfield. The $830,000 project has been awarded funding to bring high-speed broadband to more than 300 premises by early 2022.
“Mulmur council is thrilled that a significant portion of the projects are directed to residents of Mulmur. Eh!Tel networks will be supplying 55 km of fibre-optic broadband to the communities of Honeywood, Blackbank, Ruskview, Terra Nova, Kilgore, Whitfield and Springwater Lakes. Bell will be offering service to Mansfield residents. These projects will bring connectivity to some of our township areas that today have little to no cell or internet service. Our beautiful Township does pose significant challenges for connectivity. The SWIFT partnership allows us to service areas that we could never have accomplished on our own” said Mulmur Township Mayor Janet Horner.
Funding of $6 million has been awarded by SWIFT, which includes a $1.3 million investment from the County of Dufferin, to support infrastructure development in communities throughout the County.
“Expanding our network to Dufferin County is a priority for Cogeco Connexion Inc. (Cogeco) and is part of our four-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in the operation and expansion of our robust broadband network. We are proud to have been selected by SWIFT to proceed with our proposed expansion in the County,” said Michel Blais, Vice President, Network, Operations and Technology Delivery, Cogeco.