A significant expansion of high-speed Internet service is coming to rural Ontario, including the Rainy River District.
Almost three thousand residents in several First Nation communities and rural parts of the district will be connected as part of a project funded by the provincial and federal governments.
The areas to benefit include Animakee Wa Zhing 37 First Nation, Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum, Anishnaabeg of Naongashiing, Big Grassy, Couchiching First Nation, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan No. 39 Independent First Nation, Lac Des Mille Lacs, Lac La Croix, Lac Seul, Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation, Mitaanjigamiing First Nation, Naicatchewenin, Naotkamegwanning, Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Obashkaandagaang First Nation, Ojibway Nation of Saugeen, Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Rainy River First Nations, Seine River First Nation, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Wabauskang First Nation, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, Devlin/LaVallee, Eagle River, Emo, Mine Centre, Morson, Nestor Falls, Sioux Narrows, Stratton, Upsala, Vermilion Bay, Wabigoon and Dinorwic.
It was one of several large-scale, fibre-based projects approved for Ontario, costing an estimated $1.2 billion.
Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the pandemic showed the critical need for dependable high-speed broadband services.
“This past year of living and working and studying virtually has, of course, increased our dependence on high-speed Internet,” says Freeland.
A total of 288-thousand Ontario residents will benefit from Thursday’s announcement.
Many live in under-served or underserviced areas.
Federal Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef says high-speed Internet has become an essential service.
“Our goal is to connect as many households as quickly as possible, and we’re grateful to every single Internet service provider who’s brought forward an application,” says Monsef.
Provincial Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma says the investments help Ontario achieve its connectivity goal.
“We are taking a huge step forward in our comprehensive and proactive plan that commits nearly $4 billion to achieve 100% connectivity across the province by the end of 2025,” says Surma.
Once the Rainy River project is complete, computer users will enjoy upload speeds of about ten megabits per second, with downloads at 50, matching provincial guidelines.