Fibre broadband is coming to Chatham-Kent.
Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology, better known as SWIFT, announced this morning the $19-million project will see over 4500 homes and businesses connected to more reliable internet.
SWIFT will leverage $7.4 million in funding contributions made by its member municipalities, including investments from Chatham-Kent, to expand broadband access across the municipality, although there’s no word on what CK’s share of that investment is.
“For a number of years our residents, particularly those in rural areas, have expressed a strong desire for high-speed Internet service,” Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff says. “Council has listened and staff has been working behind the scenes with our partners to bring us here.”
The project also includes the Eelŭnaapéewi Lahkéewiit (Delaware Nation) Moravian of the Thames community.
“The ability to navigate the high-speed highways of global information and efficient communications; the ability to access new educational or economic opportunities,” says Delaware Nation Chief Denise Stonefish. “This will be a game changer for the Delaware Nation, here at Moraviantown, especially for our youth, who will be the real benefactors of this technology.”
TekSavvy Solutions has been awarded funding to support three fibre-to-the-home projects. The newly awarded projects will collectively service 1,782 homes and businesses throughout the communities of Mitchell’s Bay, Highgate, Tupperville, Dover Centre, Grande Pointe, Louisville, Kent Bridge, Muirkirk and Duart, as well as in rural areas outside of Wallaceburg, Dresden, Thamesville, Bothwell and Pain Court. The projects will be completed with service available between late 2021 and early 2022.
SWIFT has signed an agreement with Cogeco Connexion to deploy fibre cabling along more than 115 kilometres of underserved roadway throughout the communities of Erieau, Erie Beach, Dealtown, North Buxton, Charing Cross, Cedar Springs, Shrewsbury, Rondeau Bay Estates, New Scotland, Rondeau Park and Morpeth to deliver high-speed internet to 2,802 businesses and homes. Construction of the $9.4 million fibre-to-the-home solution is expected to be completed with service available early-2023.
