Tag: high-speed internet

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Mobile Syrup

Governments of Canada, Ontario, fund high-speed internet project by YorkNet

Canada and Ontario flags in front of skyscrapers in Toronto

The federal government and the Government of Ontario are providing YorkNet with $48 million to fund a high-speed internet project.

YorkNet, owned by the Municipality of York, will improve access to more than 3,800 homes across 31 communities in Ontario. Brown Hill, Musselman’s Lake and Royal Beach are some communities to benefit from the project.

“We all know that internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age–it’s a necessity,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said. “Access to fast, reliable internet helps rural Canadians by levelling the playing field to access essential services like health care and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones.”

The funding comes from a July 2021 announcement from the two governments earmarking $1.2 billion to support projects bringing high-speed internet access to Ontario residents and businesses. Various providers have received funding under the joint partnership, including Bell, Cogeco, and Matawa First Nations Management. 

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

SWIFT project brings high-speed internet access to Oxford County, Ontario

Four projects funded through Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) have resulted in high-speed internet access for Oxford County, Ontario.

More than 1,000 homes and businesses benefit from the projects. Execulink completed three fibre networks in Oxford County, benefiting those in various townships and communities, including South-West Oxford and East Zorra-Tavistock.

Quadro Communications completed one project, expanding service along 331 rural homes and businesses in several communities.

“The announcement means even more rural residents, businesses, and industries will have access to reliable high-speed internet, impacting the economy, commerce and social connections of everyone in Oxford County,” Marcus Ryan, the Warden for Oxford County, said.

The expansions are part of SWIFT’s $270 million broadband expansion plan to bring high-speed internet access to 64,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario.

SWIFT has funded various other projects in the past, including one in Bant County, Ontario. 

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: SWIFT

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Mobile Syrup

Federal government funding high-speed internet access for 4,700 households in Nova Scotia

Canadian flag waving with Parliament Buildings hill in the background Ottawa,Ontario, Canada

The federal government is providing funding to bring high-speed internet access to 4,700 households across dozens of communities in Nova Scotia.

The Municipality of Pictou County will receive $31 million in funding through the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). Braeshore, Dalhousie, and Lansdowne Station are some of the many communities that will benefit.

“Our municipally owned and operated high-speed network will provide rural residents with quality internet and make this community a leader in future growth for all sectors of business, health care, education, tourism and recreation,” Robert Parker, Warden of Pictou County, said.

The UBF funds projects to bring high-speed internet to 98 percent of Canadians by 2028 and 100 percent by 2030. The federal government previously provided funding to Alberta and Ontario through the program. A map outlining projects funded under the UBF is available here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada 

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Mobile Syrup

Governments of Canada and B.C funding high-speed internet projects for 1,100 households

The federal government is partnering with the Province of British Columbia to bring high-speed internet access to more than 5,000 rural households.

CityWest is working on seven projects worth $5.2 million. The projects will bring high-speed internet access to more than 1,100 homes on and around Vancouver Island.

$19.5 million in funding will benefit 4,000 households in Mount Waddington, North Coast, Bulkley-Nechako, qathet, Columbia-Shuswap, and Cowichan Valley. Specific project details will be shared at a later date.

The funding for these projects is part of an announcement the two governments made in March 2022 to invest $380 million to connect rural residents with high-speed internet access.

“We all know that internet is no longer a luxury in this day and age — it’s a necessity,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said.

“Access to fast, reliable internet helps communities by levelling the playing field so they can access essential services like health care and education, participate in the digital economy, or simply connect with loved ones.”

The federal government has similar partnerships with other provinces, including Ontario, under Canada’s Connectivity Strategy. The strategy’s goal is to connect 98 percent of the population with high-speed internet access by 2026.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

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Mobile Syrup

Governments of Canada and Ontario invest $56 million in high-speed internet projects

Canada and Ontario flags in front of skyscrapers in Toronto

The federal government and the Province of Ontario have tasked Bell and Cogeco with three projects that will bring high-speed internet access to thousands of rural communities in eastern Ontario.

Cogeco is responsible for one project that will benefit 836 households in Greenhurst-Thurstonia, Omemee, and Pleasant Point. The company will complete the work in March 2024.

Bell is responsible for two projects, targeting more than 15,000 homes. Bell will complete the first project, benefiting various communities, including Burleigh Falls, Curve Lake, and Detlor, in March 2025. Its second, larger project, will be completed in December 2025.

The projects, worth $56 million, are part of a joint venture the two governments, along with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), entered in July 2021. The goal was to support large-scale fibre projects for 280,000 homes across the province.

“These projects will expand high-speed internet access to more unserved and underserved communities across eastern Ontario,” Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, said.

The three projects are also a part of the federal government’s connectivity plan, ensuring 98 percent of residents have high-speed internet access by 2026, and 100 percent by 2030. The initiative has led to a host of similar announcements throughout the year, including in Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Government of Ontario pledges to bring high-speed internet to 266,000 homes and businesses

The Government of Ontario has signed contracts with eight service providers to bring high-speed internet access to hundreds of communities across the province.

The service providers include Bell, Bragg Communications, Cogeco Connexion, Community Network Partners, Eh!tel Networks Inc., North Frontenac Telephone Company, Xplornet Communications Inc., and Rogers.

The agreements will bring access to 266,000 homes and businesses in 339 municipalities.

“Our government is ensuring every community in Ontario has access to reliable high-speed internet,” Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure, said.

In a press release, Bell said the partnership will allow the company to bring its fibre network, with download speeds up to 3Gbps, to communities. In a separate press release, Cogeco acknowledged it has begun to work on its projects.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Government of Ontario

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Mobile Syrup

Bell awarded contract to bring high-speed internet to 694 households in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have awarded Bell a contract to bring high-speed internet to 694 households in the province.

The rural communities of Charlottetown, Lodge Bay, Mary’s Harbour, Port Hope Simpson and Red Bay will benefit.

The project is part of the $136 million joint investment the two governments announced in February. The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) provides $116 for the investment, and the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is investing $20 million.

It’s not clear how much the individual contract will cost.

“Providing Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with reliable high-speed internet access is a priority,” Lisa Dempster, the province’s Minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs, said.

“Our $136 million collaboration with the federal government demonstrates our commitment to making this a reality for areas throughout the province, including the Labrador communities announced today.”

The two governments have made similar announcements under this investment for the Rigolet, Postville, Phillips Head and Point of Bay communities. The governments awarded Bell contracts for these communities as well.

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Federal investment to bring high-speed internet to Campbellville, Ontario

Canadian flag waving with Parliament Buildings hill in the background Ottawa,Ontario, Canada

The Government of Canada is investing $750,000 to increase connectivity for households in Campbellville, Ontario.

The money is coming through the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) and will benefit 357 rural households. The federal government awarded the contract to Mage Networks.

“We need to close the connectivity gap and ensure that every nook and cranny of Ontario has access to reliable high-speed internet,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said.

“Investments like this one in Campbellville help create jobs, improve access to health care and online learning services, and keep us connected to our loved ones.”

The government has made similar funding announcements for Ontario through the UBF in the past. The announcements are working towards the government’s goal to ensure that 98 percent of the country’s residents have access to high-speed internet by 2026.

A map outlining all announcements made under the UBF is available here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Mage Networks will bring high-speed internet to West Bragg Creek, Alberta households

Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service

The governments of Canada and Alberta are giving Mage Networks $500,000 to bring high-speed internet to households in West Bragg Creek, Alberta.

The Calgary-based internet service provider will bring the service to 280 homes.

The funding comes from an existing agreement the two governments announced in March, collectively investing $780 million to bring high-speed internet access to the province’s rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.

“The residents of West Bragg Creek have lived without proper internet service for far too long due to the mountainous, forested terrain of the region,” Miranda Rosin, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Banff-Kananaskis, said.

“In an increasingly digital era, this investment will ensure that every resident can actively participate in Alberta’s growing economy from the comfort of their home, and enjoy all the  services that fast and reliable internet provides.”

The federal government is making the investment through the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF). All projects funded through UBF can be viewed here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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Cottage Life

Cottagers won’t miss out on mobile speeds if connected to 5G or 4G

Photo by Rasulov/Shutterstock

This article first appeared on MobileSyrup and it has been shared with permission. To see the original article, click here.

While visiting cottage country is a summer staple for many Canadians, it’s seldom that people leave all of their electronic devices behind.

Opensignal examined what cottage dwellers can expect when accessing services through their mobile network this summer.

Download speeds were reported at an impressive 113.7Mbps — but only when connected to 5G. Those connected with 4G could only get download speeds of 52.9Mbps.

It goes without surprise that both of these download speeds were slower when compared to the national average. Nationally, 5G download speeds were over nine percent faster, and 4G speeds were almost 12 percent faster.

A similar trend was recorded for upload speeds, but the gap between speeds nationally compared to cottage country was smaller. 5G users in cottage country saw uploads at 17.6Mbps, and 4G users saw 10Mbps. Comparatively, national users saw an upload speed of 19.8Mbps with 5G and 11.8Mbps with 4G.

The report notes the differences in mobile networks between cottage country users and national users begin and end with mobile upload and download speeds.

Examining streaming video over mobile, there was no “statistically significant difference” in the experience when connected to 5G. A small difference when comparing the 4G experience was reported.

A graphic showing that video, game and voice app experience in cottage country is on par with the national experience
Photo by Opensignal Limited/MobileSyrup

There was also no difference while gaming or using over-the-top (OTT) voice app services, including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

“The quality of users’ experience in cottage country regions while streaming videos, playing multiplayer mobile games and using voice app services, was on par with the national experience, with very little or no significant difference in scores on both 4G and 5G,” the study says.