Read this news release on the SWIFT website. 

(Oxford County, ON) March 1, 2023  – SWIFT is pleased to report that more than 1,040 homes and business in Oxford County now have access to high-speed internet, as the regional broadband expansion program marks construction complete on four fibre-optic projects.

“We’re proud to be working with local internet service providers such as Quadro Communications and Execulink Telecom, as we continue to expand high-speed fibre-optic connectivity throughout Oxford County,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT.  “Today’s announcement is great news for the residents as the newly established networks will enable people to stay connected in their homes to support remote working, increase access to online services and education, while also providing greater opportunities for economic growth within the region.”

As part of SWIFT’s Southwestern Ontario broadband expansion plan, Execulink Telecom has completed the construction of three fibre-networks in Oxford County to provide more residents living and working in the Townships of South-West Oxford, East Zorra-Tavistock and Norwich with access to high-speed internet service. In total more than 40 kilometres of fibre-optic cabling was laid to provide an additional 712 homes and businesses in the communities of Hickson, Strathallan, Huntingford, Willow Lake, Salford, Hagles Corners, Foldens, Curries, Culloden, Delmer and Ostrander with access to fibre-optic connectivity.

In addition, Quadro Communications has completed the construction of a fibre-optic network in the Township of Zorra.  The newly established infrastructure has expanded service along 106 kilometres of roadway to provide 331 rural homes and businesses in the communities of Fairview, Maplewood, Brooksdale, Youngesville, Bennington, Braemar and surrounding areas with access to high-speed internet.

“Ensuring that residents, especially those in rural communities, have reliable access to high-speed internet is vital to community development and well-being,” said Bryan May, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Cambridge, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement will ensure that over 1,000 homes, businesses, and farms in Oxford County have improved access to essential online services for years to come.”

“There are still many people, especially rural residents, who do not have reliable internet access to stay regularly connected to family and friends, or to access public services such as health care,” said Oxford MPP Ernie Hardeman. “The completion of these new infrastructure projects in Oxford will benefit numerous families and businesses and help to expand and create new opportunities.”

“The SWIFT project has been instrumental in expanding internet connectivity in rural parts of Oxford County and we are proud to partner once again to connect our communities with the rest of the world. Today’s announcement means even more rural residents, businesses and industries will have access to reliable high-speed internet, impacting the economy, commerce and social connections of everyone in Oxford County,” said Oxford County Warden, Marcus Ryan.

Today’s announcement is 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.

For additional information on SWIFT funded projects, please visit: www.swiftruralbroadband.ca.

Quotes:

“The project was successful on all fronts.  Completed well ahead of schedule and under budget, a win overall.  It was a pleasure working with SWIFT.  A big thank you to our contractor Weber Contracting and to SWIFT for continuing to band together to give a much needed service of high speed internet to rural folk who have been underserved for decades.”
– Jason Masselis, Quadro Communications Construction Manager

Quick Facts:

• SWIFT in partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors has committed a combined investment of $9.4 million to bring high-speed internet service to 1,718 underserved homes and businesses throughout Oxford County.
• In total, SWIFT has awarded 97 contractsto support the expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout Southwestern Ontario to bring nearly 64,000 homes and businesses across the region access to high-speed internet service. Local projects are underway, with 32 projects in the construction phase and 65 projects completed.

About SWIFT

Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) is a non-profit regional broadband project initiated by the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus to subsidize the construction of high-speed broadband networks across Southwestern Ontario, Caledon and the Niagara Region.

The project was approved for funding up to $127.4 million under the New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund (NBCF-SCF), a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program, and leverages additional funding from municipal partners and private sector investors to bring improve access to broadband services across the region.