Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced plans for high-speed internet and improved cell phone service for area communities. The province has pledged $315 million to improve service in rural communities, helping residents stay connected and businesses open. The move is a major win for rural communities, which often lack access to high-speed internet or cell phone service. Now, residents can stay connected and keep up with the latest news. Here are some of the details of this new plan.

Bragg Communications

Premier Rod MacDonald recently announced that the province has signed contracts with eight providers to bring high-speed internet service to hundreds of communities throughout Ontario. These providers include Bell, Bragg Communications, Cogeco Connexion, Eh!tel Networks Inc., and North Frontenac Telephone Company. As part of the province’s nearly $4 billion investment in high-speed internet, these companies will be able to bring faster speeds to area residents.

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Connecting British Columbia is a regional economic development funding corporation that operates independently of government. The province’s $10 billion COVID-19 response includes Connecting BC, a recovery plan to protect people and businesses, and a commitment to improving access and speed. The Bridge River Valley is a 300 square kilometre area north of Vancouver, 100 kilometres west of Lillooet.

Cogeco Connexion

A subsidiary of Canadian telecommunications giant Cogeco Communications Inc. has announced a series of high-speed Internet network expansion projects in Quebec in partnership with the provincial government. The project is known as Operation hautevitesse and will connect around 54,000 businesses, primary residences, and other localities to high-speed Internet service. The projects will be completed by September 2022.

The new project is a result of negotiations between the government and eight internet service providers. The province has committed to improve access to its network to 339 municipalities by 2025. The provincial government’s goal is to connect every corner of the province by the end of the decade. As part of this initiative, the province has directed nursing colleges to develop new supports for internationally trained nurses, bringing their skills up to Ontario standards and allowing them to practice within the province in a timely manner.

Community Network Partners

The government of Ontario has pledged to connect every corner of the province by 2025. To achieve that goal, the government has signed agreements with eight Internet service providers to bring faster internet speeds to area communities. This investment will help meet social and economic development priorities while providing financial benefits for local governments. The province will also invest nearly $4 billion into this program. But what does this mean for local communities? What are the benefits of this project?

Bell currently offers Gigabit Fibe service in some parts of the province and is planning to roll it out in other areas next year. Other companies such as Videotron have announced plans to roll out Gigabit internet service in Quebec, and Telus has announced plans to build a Gigabit network in Edmonton. However, these newcomers don’t need ultra-fast connections to stay connected.