Ontario Construction News staff writer
The governments of Canada and Ontario are contributing more than $2.2 million to expand high speed internet connections in Perth County.
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Tim Louis, Kitchener-Conestoga MP. “Today’s announcement will ensure that homes, businesses, and farms in Perth County can connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional economic opportunities made available through high-speed internet.”
The federal and provincial governments have partnered with the Southwest Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc., and are proud to announce that residents in Donegal, Britton and Tralee now have access to high-speed internet service.
The announcement is part of the plan to build “the right infrastructure, in the right places”.
“It is great to see more of our rural communities being connected to high-speed internet,” said MPP Matthew Rae, Perth-Wellington. “As many families and business owners know, in today’s interconnected world, high-speed internet is vital. Our government is committed to expanding high-speed internet to every corner of Ontario by the end of 2025.”
The contracts to expand broadband services in Perth County were awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation, initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing more than $63 million to SWIFT through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – Small Communities Fund.
In July 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced a historic agreement that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 280,000 Ontario households across the province through investment totaling more than $1.2 billion.
