Read this news release on the SWIFT website 

(Oxford County, ON) May 3, 2024– SWIFT is pleased to announce the successful completion of several high-speed internet projects in Oxford County, marking a pivotal achievement in the advancement of broadband infrastructure in the region.

With a combined investment of $10.5 million, SWIFT, in partnership with the municipality and local service providers, has extended high-speed internet service to 1,718 homes and businesses that previously lacked access. These network expansion projects promise significant benefits, including enhanced educational opportunities, better healthcare access, and increased potential for remote work for residents and businesses throughout Oxford County.

“The completion of the network expansion under the SWIFT initiative in Oxford County represents a significant leap forward in our ongoing mission to advance digital infrastructure throughout the region,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “Through strategic collaboration with our partners and a combined investment of $10.5 million, SWIFT has extended vital internet services to 1,718 homes and businesses, enhancing connectivity, and fostering economic growth. This achievement exemplifies the power of collective action in building a more connected and prosperous communities in Southwestern Ontario.”

“Connected people and places are central to our ability to build strong, vibrant communities, with high-speed connectivity, in particular, enabling our rural areas to fully participate in the social, educational, cultural and economic opportunities around them. As we reach the completion of our goals under this program, we extend our thanks to past councils who supported this work, the other municipalities we’ve partnered alongside, and the Board and staff of SWIFT. Oxford County’s partnership with SWIFT has been transformational for so many of our residents and businesses,” said Warden Marcus Ryan, Oxford County.

Key highlights of the completed projects include:

• Fibre-to-the-Home Projects with Execulink Telecom: Execulink Telecom has successfully completed four SWIFT funded fibre-to-the-home projects within Oxford County, expanding service along more than 60 kilometres of underserved roadway. These projects have provided high-speed internet access to 816 homes and businesses across various communities, including Hickson, Strathallan, Huntingford, Willow Lake, Salford, Hagles Corners, Foldens, Curries, Verschoyle, Dereham Centre, Culloden, Delmer and Ostrander.
• Quadro Fibre-Optic Network Expansion: Quadro Solutions has successfully completed the construction of two fiber-optic projects in Oxford County. Covering over 118 kilometers of rural roadway, these projects are now providing high-speed internet access to 418 rural homes and businesses across the communities of Kintore, Fairview, Maplewood, Brooksdale, Youngsville, Bennington, Braemar, and their surrounding areas.
• Rogers Communication Fibre-Optic Project: SWIFT has partnered with Rogers Communications to deploy fibre cabling along 15 kilometres of underserved roadway in the communities of Drumbo and Gobles. This fibre-to-the-home network buildout has extended high-speed internet access to 484 businesses and homes, fostering economic growth and development in these areas.

These completed projects represent a significant investment in digital infrastructure and underscore SWIFT’s commitment to bridging the digital divide, promoting economic growth, and improving the quality of life for residents and businesses in Oxford County and surrounding areas.

For additional information about SWIFT and its broadband expansion plans, please visit www.swiftruralbroadband.ca.

Quick Facts:

• Oxford County benefited from a total of $10.5 million in broadband upgrades, with over $5.7 million contributed by service providers, as part of the SWIFT program.
• Through SWIFT’s $276 million regional broadband expansion plan, nearly 67,000 previously underserved homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario will be provided with access to high-speed internet service, including 1,718 homes and businesses in Oxford County.
  
  

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.