North Shore internet access
Ground has officially broken on a project that will bring high-speed internet access to more than 60 communities along the north shore of Lake Huron between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie and Manitoulin Island. It will serve 18,600 households, including over 2,500 Indigenous households.
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.
In 2014, just 79% of Canadian households had access to high-speed Internet. Today, 93.5% have access. The Universal Broadband Fund is a $3.225 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help provide high-speed Internet access to 98% of Canadians by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% access by 2030.
This projects 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.
QUOTES
““I am glad that our federal government supported this project through the Universal Broadband Fund. More families in Algoma will soon benefit from connectivity for business, for healthcare, 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.”
– Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Seniors
“Reliable high-speed internet is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for education, healthcare, and economic growth in the digital age. We are committed to ensuring these communities receive the same access to opportunities as urban areas.”
– Dr. Kalai S. Kalaichelvan, Chairman & CEO of PomeGran
“Today, we celebrate not just the start of construction but 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.”
– Joe Hickey, President of PomeGran and Founder of ROCK Networks