More than 2,000 additional homes and businesses in Lambton County now have access to high-speed internet service.
Cogeco, in partnership with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) has announced the completion of an 80-kilometre fibre-optic network in St. Clair Township.
It will serve residents along the St. Clair River shoreline between Corunna and Babys Point, as well as Port Lambton, Sombra, Wilkesport, Avonry, Mooretown and Brigden.
SWIFT Board Chair Gary McNamara said over 90 per cent of homes and businesses located in SWIFT funded project areas throughout Lambton County now have access to high-speed internet.
"With the pandemic, having reliability while working at home was key," said McNamara. "The educational requirements for the children of Lambton County to have access to high-speed service was essential, and it created some very stressful times for all of the folks that were extremely dependent on high-speed."
McNamara said the upgrades are also key for those needing online medical assessments, and will help farmers and businesses remain competitive.
"Without high-speed internet, it makes it very difficult to expand the whole issue of developing economic opportunities," he said. "As we all know, that creates jobs and stops the migration of companies leaving smaller rural communities for larger urban centres."
SWIFT, along with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors, has committed a total of $18.8 million to bring high-speed internet service to nearly 5,000 underserved homes and businesses throughout Lambton County.
That includes an additional $2.5 million investment from the County of Lambton.
McNamara said local projects are underway, with 38 of them in the construction phase and 59 having been completed.
"The province now has mandated that every home in Ontario have access to high-speed," said McNamara. "There are still some areas within Lambton County, and many other counties, that still need access to high-speed. So, that is coming."
The upgrades are part of SWIFT’s $270 million regional broadband expansion plan that will bring high-speed internet access to nearly 64,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario.