Postmedia Staff

Aug 10, 2022

The Ontario government is bringing high-speed internet access to underserved homes and businesses in Belleville, Prince Edward County, and Quinte West as part of a plan to help connect every corner of the province by 2025.

The government estimates that there are as many as 12,040 underserved homes and businesses in these municipalities.

Following a two-stage competitive process, Rogers Commnications has signed an agreement with the Province to bring high-speed wired internet access to homes and businesses in all three local municipalities, Cogeco Connexion has signed an agreement for Quinte West, and Bell Canada has signed an agreement for Belleville.

In total, the province has signed agreements with eight internet service providers to bring access to up to 266,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses in as many as 339 municipalities across Ontario.

“We know that residents and business operators here in Bay of Quinte are increasingly dependent on online connectivity and, for many, it has been challenging to find reliable service,” said Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, in a press release.

“With these agreements, our government is delivering the necessary investment to bring this vital infrastructure into their communities.” Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure added: “Our government is ensuring every community in Ontario has access to reliable high-speed internet. “We are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families in Bay of Quinte. Through our tremendous progress, more Ontarians will be able to have access to reliable high-speed internet no matter where they live.”

The announcement is part of Ontario’s historic investment of nearly $4 billion to bring access to reliable high-speed internet across the province, which will help ensure that every home and business, in every community, can participate in today’s economy.

The news was well received by local municipal officials.

“We are excited to see continued progress toward the delivery of high-speed internet access for unserved and underserved areas in Prince Edward County. Members of our community increasingly rely on the internet to work, learn, run their businesses, and connect with the broader world. We commend the Ontario government’s efforts to enhance this critical infrastructure and the investments that have 2 been made to expand access, especially to those living and working in rural communities,” said Steve Ferguson, Mayor of Prince Edward County.

Mitch Panciuk, Mayor of Belleville, added “We have lobbied very hard for improved internet services for the past two terms of Council. We do this because we know this important for residents and businesses. The Covid pandemic and remote school/work has only shown how much we need improved services. We are very pleased to hear that these changes will be in place for our region by the end of 2025.”