Eastern Ontario To Create 80K New Broadband Connections
The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus has awarded its second Local Access Contract that will allow nearly 80,000 homes and businesses to connect wirelessly to high-speed Internet across a region that includes all of Prince Edward County, most of the southern half of Hastings and Lennox and Addington Counties and a westerly portion of Frontenac County. The service will be available by fall 2012.
As part of the contract, Xplornet Communications Inc. will expand its fixed wireless network to reach an area of some 7,000 square kilometres. This is Xplornet’s second access contract with the Project.
“We are extremely pleased to announce this second contract,” said J. Murray Jones, Chair of the EOWC. “It covers one of our largest and most populous zones. Not only will it improve service to surrounding rural areas, many residents of, Belleville, Quinte West and parts of Kingston will also see improved high speed access.”
This is the second of several contracts that will be awarded to deliver high-speed Internet through wired and fixed wireless services as part of the Eastern Ontario regional broadband project. The $170 million project is funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments and private sector investment. Work to build a massive, 5,500-km fibre optic network is already underway and a contract has also been signed to deliver high-speed via satellite at improved pricing.
“With this contract, we’ve taken another important step towards the building of a new regional network that will allow our residents and businesses to prosper,” added Dave Burton, Chair of Eastern Ontario Regional Network Inc. (EORN). “Connecting to the Internet with higher speeds will open new doors for our communities in terms of quality of life and economic growth.”
“Xplornet is pleased to be able to expand access to fast, affordable broadband Internet across Eastern Ontario through this investment in wireless infrastructure” said John Maduri, CEO of Xplornet Communications Inc.
EORN is a not-for-profit organization established by the EOWC to manage all contracts awarded as part of the project.
Once up and running in fall 2012, a variety of service packages will be offered, ranging from 1.5 Mbps to up to 10 Mbps. These speeds will enable users to stream video and other innovative applications that will support various sectors, including business, health and education.
