Province launches high-speed internet procurement RFQ
The Ontario government is taking further steps to connect every community in the province to high-speed internet access by the end of 2025.
On September 9, the province launched a request for qualifications (RFQ) as part of a new competitive bidding process to connect more than 300,000 homes and businesses in unserved and underserved areas.
The procurement process is being conducted through a series of reverse auctions in defined geographic areas. Qualified internet service providers will bid on how much provincial funding they need to provide each community with high-speed internet access. The winning bids will meet the province’s defined criteria for coverage and deployment at the lowest price.
The procurement process will be run by Infrastructure Ontario.
“Our government is bringing access to high-speed internet to every home and business across Ontario,” said Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma. “By taking this next step, we are closer to ensuring that no one is left behind when it comes to participating in this digital world. We’re saying that no matter where you live, you will have access to reliable, high-speed internet to work, learn, start a business, access vital services like health care, and connect with family and friends.”
The new procurement process builds on the province’s recently announced investment of up to $14.7 million for 13 new projects under its Improving Connectivity for Ontario program. The funding will provide up to 17,000 homes and businesses with access to reliable high-speed internet. It also builds on a range of other previously announced provincial initiatives that will connect another 70,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern and Northern Ontario.
“Infrastructure Ontario is excited to be launching this innovative new competitive bidding process,” said Michael Lindsay, President and CEO of Infrastructure Ontario. “These past 18 months of working, learning and receiving care from home have shown the value and importance of achieving high-speed connectivity for every region in Ontario. This program will help more than 300,000 homes and businesses across the province gain access to this connectivity."
Ontario is now one of the few jurisdictions in Canada with a plan to achieve 100 percent broadband connectivity. Currently, as many as 700,000 households in the province lack access to high-speed internet or have no internet connection at all.
The government plans to announce the results of the reverse auctions—as well as additional details on how it will help ensure every region in Ontario has access to high-speed internet by the end of 2025—in the coming months.