County will see advanced broadband internet service for 114 families, farms, and businesses.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Photo by Joshua Sortino on Unsplash
The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing more than $278,000 to bring reliable high-speed internet to 114 rural families, farms, and businesses in Middlesex County.
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 a joint investment totaling more than $1.2 billion.
For those wondering why this is a big deal for ag, note that having better and faster internet service is key to allowing precision ag technologies to work optimally.
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement marks another milestone for homes, businesses, and farms in Middlesex County that can now 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 Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. and are proud to announce that residents in the community of Ballymote now have broadband infrastructure in place to enable access to high-speed internet service.
“Our government continues to deliver on its commitment to expand access to high-speed internet to communities across the province,” added Lisa Thompson, the Minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “By building new broadband infrastructure in Middlesex County, we’re helping to build Ontario and strengthen rural communities. This investment is helping people stay in touch with loved ones, enabling them to access the supports they need while providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.”
This announcement marks the completion of another project under SWIFT and builds on the Ontario government’s plan to get the right infrastructure in the right places, ensuring people can live, work, and farm where they want.
“No matter where you live in southwestern Ontario, you should have confidence you’ll have access to fast, reliable high-speed internet,” said Monte McNaughton, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “Today’s investment brings us closer to ensuring every family and business in our community can stay connected to the people and things that matter most.”
The contract to expand broadband services in Middlesex County was awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
"High-speed internet access opens up a world of possibilities, transforming the way we learn, work, and connect. Through collaborative efforts with local partners and government support, SWIFT continues to make strong strides in advancing the expansion of broadband infrastructure across Southwestern Ontario, empowering communities, and fostering economic growth and innovation,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “The completion of this important infrastructure project in Middlesex County signifies yet another step forward in bridging Southwestern Ontario’s digital divide, and we look forward to seeing the positive impacts it will have on the residents and businesses for years to come.”
Over $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet access to more than 63,000 homes and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT by the end of 2023.
The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the province by the end of 2025. This is the largest single investment in high-speed internet in Canadian history.
Visit www.Ontario.ca/highspeedinternet and search by address, community, or municipality to find out more about provincially funded high-speed internet projects and where high-speed internet service is currently available.