Projects will improve high-speed Internet coverage for 65,000 households

/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 04/08/16 -- Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For most Canadians, access to affordable and reliable broadband networks is an important part of everyday life. However, communities outside urban centres often face challenges in accessing Internet service at levels comparable to those in cities due to factors such as remote location and challenging terrain.

Twenty-three Internet service providers across Canada are receiving approximately $34.5 million from the Government of Canada to increase broadband Internet access for over 65,000 households in rural areas across the country. This investment includes approximately $600,000 that will allow Xplornet Communications Inc. to bring improved access to over 7,000 households in the Niagara Region and the counties of Haldimand and Norfolk.

Canadians in all regions of the country need access to reliable, high-speed Internet so that they can fully participate in the digital economy. Broadband gives Canadians access to services like e-health and other government services, and it helps them stay in touch with friends and family across Canada.

The Government of British Columbia is also providing approximately $3.4 million in additional support for six of the projects in that province through the Connecting British Columbia program. As well, the Government of Ontario is providing $1.4 million in additional support for two of the projects in that province through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Lastly, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing approximately $51,000 in additional support for the Burgeo project in that province.

Quotes

"Helping to extend high-speed Internet across the country is one of the most important infrastructure investments the Government of Canada can make to help unlock the tremendous potential of our country's northern and rural regions. By working with partners across the country, the Government is helping to deliver increased broadband coverage to underserved areas across Canada. This will provide Canadians with greater employment and business opportunities, better access to online education and e-health, improved communications and media, and increased access to online goods and services."

- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"At Xplornet, we believe that rural Canadian families should be offered the same opportunities as families in urban areas. Therefore, we are delighted to work alongside the Government of Canada toward our shared goal of providing fast, affordable Internet to rural Canada. By accelerating the build of broadband infrastructure in areas like Niagara, families in the Niagara Region will have enhanced high-speed Internet service so they can experience everything the Internet has to offer."

- Bill Macdonald, Executive Vice-President of Business Development, Xplornet Communications Inc.

Quick facts

--  The $305 million Connecting Canadians program is extending and enhancing
    broadband services to over 300,000 households across Canada.
--  Additionally, through Budget 2016, the Government of Canada will invest
    $500 million over five years for a new program to extend and enhance
    broadband service in rural and remote communities.

Associated links

- Connecting Canadians website

Follow the Minister on Twitter: @MinisterISED

Backgrounder

Connecting Canadians

For most Canadians, access to affordable and reliable broadband networks is an important part of everyday life; however, communities outside urban centres often face challenges in accessing Internet service at levels comparable to those in cities due to factors such as remote location and challenging terrain.

The Government of Canada is committed to increasing high-speed broadband coverage for rural Canadians. Enhancing and extending access will create new employment opportunities for rural and northern Canadians by increasing their ability to participate in the digital economy. Improved broadband access will also provide households with the ability to use distance education and cloud computing applications, and it will help Canadians in rural and remote communities stay connected to friends and family members.

Through the Connecting Canadians program, the Government is contributing $305 million to extend and enhance broadband service to a minimum target speed of five megabits per second (Mbps) for over 300,000 Canadians households.

Budget 2016 committed $500 million over five years for a new program to extend and enhance broadband services in rural and remote communities. Investment in quality broadband networks will extend access to innovative services that improve education, health care, productivity and local quality of life. Further details on the new program will be available in the coming months.

List of Connecting Canadians projects

============================================================================
                                                                  Connecting
                     Project Applicant          Households         Canadians
Province                          Name         Targeted(i)        Funding(i)
============================================================================
British                   A.B.C. Allen
 Columbia(ii)                 Business
                   Communications Ltd.              12,000      $2.4 million
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                           Twin Island
                   Communications Ltd.                 150            $8,500
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                   Village of Granisle                 250          $121,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                      Brooks Bay Cable
                                 Corp.                 550          $125,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                  Base Technology Ltd.               1,000          $492,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                  Mascon Cable Systems
                                  Ltd.                 950          $626,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                      GwaiiTel Society               1,800      $7.6 million
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                   Lookieloo.net Sales
                      & Purchases Ltd.                 200           $89,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                  Minto Communications
                               Society                  80           $52,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                  Telus Communications               6,900      $4.5 million
============================================================================
Alberta               IWantWireless.ca               4,000      $1.2 million
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                      Arrow Technology
                            Group Ltd.               2,000      $2.4 million
============================================================================
Manitoba             Norway House Cree
                      Nation Broadband
                                  Inc.               1,000      $4.7 million
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                  First Communications                 140          $780,000
============================================================================
Ontario(iii)        True 802 Wireless,
                                  Inc.                 600           $93,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                              Xplornet
                   Communications Inc.               7,000          $612,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                          Nexicom Ltd.                 250          $107,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                        Storm Internet
                              Services                 950          $160,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                           Tuckersmith
                    Communications Co-
                        operative Ltd.                  35           $19,000
                  ----------------------------------------------------------
                               TbayTel                 820          $950,000
============================================================================
Nova Scotia                    Acadian
                   Communications Ltd.                 400           $46,000
============================================================================
Newfoundland and              Xplornet
 Labrador(iv)      Communications Inc.              12,500      $3.5 million
                  ==========================================================
                   Burgeo Broadcasting
                                System                  90           $60,000
============================================================================
Prince Edward                 Xplornet
 Island            Communications Inc.              12,000      $1.6 million
============================================================================
Northwest
 Territories          Northwestel Inc.                 500      $2.6 million
============================================================================

(i) Household targets represent an estimate; coverage within a community will depend on its size, local topography and other factors. The amount of funding awarded to each company represents "up to" the cited amount.

(ii) The Government of British Columbia is providing an additional approximately $3.4 million for six of the projects listed above through the Connecting British Columbia grant program, administered province-wide by Northern Development Initiative Trust. The six co-funded projects are with ABC Communications, Village of Granisle, Brooks Bay Cable Corp, Base Technology Ltd., Lookieloo and Minto.

(iii) The Government of Ontario is providing an additional approximately $1.4 million for two of the projects through its Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

(iv) The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is providing an additional approximately $51,000 for the Burgeo project within that province.

Contacts:
Philip Proulx
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation,
Science and Economic Development
343-291-2500

Media Relations
Innovation, Science and
Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca

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