High-speed internet project will help 'bridge the digital divide in northern Ontario'

Construction has begun on a project that will provide high-speed internet to more than 60 communities along the north shore of Lake Huron, between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie and Manitoulin Island.

Upon completion, the Northern Ontario Gigabit Fibre Project will bring high-speed internet to 18,600 households, including more than 2,500 Indigenous households. 

“I am glad that our federal government supported this project through the Universal Broadband Fund," said Terry Sheehan, member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors, in a news release issued by his office.

"More families in Algoma will soon benefit from connectivity for business, for health care, for learning, and for community. In a digitally connected world, over 18,000 more homes between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie will have the high-speed access they need to succeed," Sheehan said.

Spearheaded by PomeGran and ROCK Networks, the Northern Ontario Gigabit Fibre Project is funded through a joint investment of $97 million from the federal and provincial governments. In 2021, the governments announced a Canada–Ontario broadband partnership to support large scale, fibre-based projects that will provide high-speed internet access to nearly 280,000 households across the province, investing more than $1.2 billion.

"Reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for education, health care, and economic growth in the digital age," said Kalai S. Kalaichelvan, chairman & CEO of PomeGran.

"We are committed to ensuring these communities receive the same access to opportunities as urban areas," Kalaichelvan added.

Joe Hickey, president of PomeGran and founder of ROCK Networks, said this announcement marks the beginning of a new era for northern Ontario. 

"This project will help bridge the digital divide, providing essential connectivity that will enhance the quality of life for many families and businesses," Hickey said. 

According to the release, in 2014 just 79 per cent of Canadian households had access to high-speed internet. Today, 93.5 per cent have access. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the federal government designed to help provide high-speed internet access to 98 per cent of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100 per cent access by 2030.

"This project will build toward that goal, and the federal government will continue to invest in infrastructure that creates new opportunities in communities and makes sure they can benefit from all of Canada’s potential," the release said.