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Ontario high-speed internet rollout comes to Essex County

As part of the Ontario government’s plan to build Ontario and its commitment to connect every community to broadband internet by the end of 2025, construction is underway on a new infrastructure network in Stoney Point. This $3.7-million project will soon connect more than 945 homes, farms and businesses to reliable high-speed internet services starting in May 2022.

The project will help ensure that farms and businesses in Stoney Point will have the ability to attract new customers, grow their business, create new jobs and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

The expanded fibre-optic service is supported by the governments of Canada and Ontario, each committing more than $850,000. The contracts to expand broadband services in Stoney Point were awarded to Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in unserved and underserved areas of Southwestern Ontario.

“Access to reliable high-speed internet is critical for families and businesses, and the challenge of not having good quality internet service has been amplified during the pandemic,” said Irek Kusmierczyk, member of parliament (MP) for Windsor-Tecumseh. “Through our investments and collaboration with community partners, our government is connecting families in Southwestern Ontario so they can stay in touch with their loved ones, work or study from home and access essential services.”

More than $255 million has been invested by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector to bring high-speed internet to more than 9,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT.

“Our government made access to high speed internet a major priority for rural Ontario and we are delivering on that commitment,” said Lisa Thompson, minister of agriculture, food, and rural affairs. “The pandemic really showed us the importance of being connected to high-speed broadband. Families and businesses in these communities and throughout rural Ontario need these services to do their work – whether it’s schoolwork or running a business. This is the type of critical infrastructure that will build Ontario and benefit the entire community.”