A Chatham-based internet service provider has announced plans to spend $26 million dollars to develop a high-speed fibre broadband network in Chatham-Kent.
Teksavvy’s CEO, Marc Gaudrault, says a few customers are online now with more to come in the months ahead.
“The big push will be later next year, I figure roughly 18 months, and we should have a good number of homes online,” Gaudrault says. “It’s great to be able to contribute back and hopefully be able to continue the path Chatham-Kent is already on, building a great community and being attractive for more people to come live here, raise their children here, and bring their businesses here.”
Chatham-Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer says the plan will be a boon to the entire municipality.
“We’ve heard from both our businesses and also residents that for people to be really competitive, they need to make sure they’re connected to high-speed fibre,” Don Shropshire says. “Couldn’t be happier with the investment by TekSavvy.”
TekSavvy plans to connect 38,000 homes and businesses in the next 18 months.
The project will begin in Chatham and then expand to Wallaceburg, Ridgetown, Blenheim and Tilbury in the months to come.