Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) announced on December 21 that it has awarded contracts worth nearly $12 million to expand broadband infrastructure in Waterloo Region.

When complete, the projects will deliver faster, more reliable internet service to more than 1,000 households and businesses.

“Today we are pleased to announce more than $11.6 million in investments to support the expansion of broadband services in the Region of Waterloo,” said David Mayberry, SWIFT Board Chair. “Once completed the newly announced high-speed networks will provide greater access to fast, reliable internet connectivity, creating greater opportunities for education, employment and economic prosperity within the region.”

“Modern internet infrastructure is more important than ever for all regional residents,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “Whether it’s for a home business, people working at home or online education, increased access to broadband will help with economic recovery now and provide more opportunities for growth into the future.”

SWIFT has awarded $7.8 million in federal and provincial funding to support five fibre-to-the-home projects that will collectively service 130 kilometres of rural underserved roadway within the region. In total, the Region of Waterloo will receive $11.6 million in broadband upgrades, including more than $3.8 million in contributions from the internet service providers.

“SWIFT continues to drive broadband expansion across Southwestern Ontario,” said executive director Barry Field. “The program is now rolling out projects at an accelerated rate with 80 percent of the newly announced projects in the Waterloo Region slated to begin construction within the next four months.”

Specifically,

• North Frontenac Telephone Corporation Limited has been awarded funding to support two fibre-to-the-home projects. The projects will service 103 kilometres of rural roadway throughout the Townships of Woolwich, Wellesley and Wilmot to bring high-speed internet to 647 homes and businesses. The projects will be completed with service available by mid-2022.

• Bell Canada will deploy fibre cabling along more than 14 kilometres of roadway within the Township of North Dumfries to deliver high-speed internet to 250 businesses and homes in the communities of Orr’s Lake and Clyde. Construction is expected to be completed with service available by mid-2022.

• EH!tel Networks will receive funding to deploy fibre-optic cabling along 14 kilometres of underserviced roadways in the Township of Woolwich. The $874,000 fibre-to-the-home network will deliver high-speed connectivity to 92 households and businesses in rural areas surrounding the community of Maryhill by early-2022.

• Finally, Rogers Communications was awarded a contract to deploy fibre-optic cabling along 2.1 kilometres of underserviced roadways in the Township of Wilmot. The $300,000 fibre-to-the-home solution will deliver high-speed connectivity to 54 households and businesses in the village of Haysville by early-2022.

Construction is scheduled to start as early as April 2021 and will be completed with service available by July 2022.

"The signing of these contracts in Waterloo Region is a crucial step forward in our plan to deliver broadband that supports better educational opportunities, will help attract more businesses and create local jobs," said Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. "It is imperative that we expand connectivity to our rural and remote areas as the internet has become a critical tool that is used in almost every aspect of life."

The federal and provincial governments are each contributing more than $63 million to SWIFT through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – Small Communities Fund of the Investing in Canada plan.