Improved High-Speed Internet Now Available in Renfrew County

RENFREW, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 22, 2014) - Residents in Renfrew County are celebrating the news today that improved high-speed Internet is now available in their area. The reach and speed of existing DSL services have been expanded to provide download speeds of up to 15 Mbps through a new fibre optic cable network and new or improved access points made possible through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network project. In areas that cannot connect with the wired service, a satellite solution provides connectivity to speeds of up to 10 Mbps.

Thanks to a joint investment from the governments of Canada and Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Inc. and private sector partners, over 31,000 homes and businesses in Renfrew County now have access to the latest web-based applications, and information and entertainment resources. This is one of the many areas across Eastern Ontario to receive improved high-speed Internet access through Ontario's largest rural broadband network project.

The entire project is helping to improve high-speed Internet throughout the nearly 50,000 square kilometres of Eastern Ontario, a region encompassing the counties of Hastings, Peterborough, Renfrew, Northumberland, Haliburton, Frontenac, Lanark, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington, the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes.

Quick Facts



-- The Government of Canada is contributing up to $55 million through the
Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component.
-- The Government of Ontario is contributing up to $55 million through the
Broadband Infrastructure Fund.
-- The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Inc. and private sector partners
will contribute the remaining funding of the total project cost of $170
million.



Quotes

"Our Government is proud to lead of a project that will enable the development of new markets, increase global opportunities and improve quality of life in Eastern Ontario. Reliable broadband access has become increasingly important for rural communities as it compliments innovation and is the communications backbone of a modern economy."



Cheryl Gallant
Member of Parliament for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, on behalf of the
Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and
Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of
Canada for the Regions of Quebec



"Our government is investing in modern infrastructure to support the growth of vibrant communities, and to build local economies in Ontario. Bringing improved high-speed internet to Renfrew County will give residents and business the tools they need to thrive. Our goverment continues to make long-term, strategic investments in infrastructure to improve the quality of life for families in our rural communities."



Marie-France Lalonde
Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa--Orleans and Parliamentary
Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and
Infrastructure (Economic Development)



"The expansion in Ottawa Valley North is a significant milestone in our goal to improve high-speed access to 95 per cent of the region. We've also recently expanded the project to include new fibre optic connections to business parks, including a number in Renfrew County, which will create added opportunities for businesses to grow and thrive."



Jean Paul St. Pierre
Chair of the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus Inc. (EOWC)



"We have significantly improved wired access in an area that was previously underserved because of its low population density. This will help improve quality of life and economic opportunity for many communities."



David Burton
Chair of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN)



"Bell Aliant is pleased to once again collaborate with EORN and our government partners to deliver high-speed Internet in the Ottawa Valley North Zone. We are particularly pleased to provide broadband technology with access speeds up to 15 Mbps."



Jason St-Pierre,
Regional Manager of Operations, Eastern Ontario, Bell Aliant



"Xplornet's investment in 4G satellite service means that no matter where you live, you can take advantage of the transformative benefits of real high-speed internet. No one will be left behind. EORN deserves a great deal of credit for having accelerated full and affordable broadband across Renfrew County."



Chris Harlond
Ontario Director of Sales, Xplornet Communications Inc.



Associated Links

For additional information about the federal Building Canada Fund - Major Infrastructure Component, visit www.infrastructure.gc.ca/prog/bcf-fcc-eng.html.

For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing infrastructure in your area, visit www.ontario.ca/buildingtoday.

For additional information about the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, visit www.eorn.ca.

For information on Bell Aliant, visit www.bellaliant.net.

For information on Xplornet, visit www.xplornet.com.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan at www.eap.gc.ca/.

Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Vincent Rabault - Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure,
Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs,
and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada
for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1848


Bryan Bossin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Rural Affairs of Ontario
416-326-3072


Lisa Severson
Eastern Ontario Regional Network
613-213-8520


Norma Hughes
Bell Aliant
877-647-3443


Morten Paulsen
Xplornet Communications
403-453-0062


Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca