The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing over $3.1 million to bring reliable high-speed internet to 1,639 families, farms, and businesses in Brant County.
“Providing reliable internet access is especially important for rural communities to prosper in our increasingly digital world,” said the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement marks another milestone for homes, businesses, and farms in Brant County that can now connect to essential online services and enjoy the additional opportunities that come with high-speed internet.”
The federal and provincial governments have partnered with Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc. to provide residents in the communities of Harrisburg, Harley, Fairfield Plain, Burtch, Newport, and Middleport with access to broadband infrastructure that will enable high-speed internet service.
“We’re pleased to see the positive impacts the newly installed network infrastructure will have on the residents and business owners in Brant County. The completion of this project is set to bring transformative, long-term change to the communities—creating opportunities and breaking down previous digital barriers,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT.
As part of SWIFT’s Southwestern broadband expansion plan, the awarded service provider Xplore was granted funding to deploy fibre-optic cabling across 127 kilometres of roadway throughout Brant County, bringing high-speed internet service to four separate areas including:
- Harrisburg and northeast of Paris in the northern portion of the project area
- The community of Onondaga and areas east of Cainsville and Brantford in the eastern portion of the project
- The communities of Newport and Burtch, as well as an area west of Mount Pleasant along Pleasant Ridge Road/County Road 7 in the central portion of the project; and
- The communities of Cathcart, Harley, Fairfield Plain, Northfield, and Kelvin in the southwestern section of the project area
“Rural communities are what make the County of Brant such a special place to live, but not having access to high-speed internet can be challenging and affect residents’ ability to stay connected, both personally and professionally,” said David Bailey, Mayor for the County of Brant. “By implementing access to high-speed internet for 1,639 homes and businesses in the County, SWIFT is not only enhancing the quality of life of these residents but also providing economic opportunities. This is a wonderful achievement for Brant and a step forward in minimizing the digital gap for residents.”
“Ontario continues to deliver on its commitment to expand access to high-speed internet to communities across the province,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “By installing new broadband infrastructure in Brant County, we’re building Ontario and strengthening rural communities. This investment is helping people stay in touch with loved ones, allowing families to connect with online services, and making it easier for businesses to reach potential customers.”
This announcement marks the completion of one more project under SWIFT and builds on the Ontario government’s plan to get the right infrastructure in the right places – ensuring people can live, work and farm where they want.
“Today, more than ever, Ontario families and businesses rely on reliable and fast internet connectivity,” said Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant. “Regardless of where you live, accessible broadband is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity for education, work and everyday business-to-business transactions. I am happy to be part of a government that prioritizes this reality and evens the playing field for many rural communities.”
The contracts to expand broadband services in Brant County were awarded by SWIFT, a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario.
“The successful completion of the high-speed broadband project in Brant County marks a significant achievement, underscoring the effectiveness of collaborative initiatives in addressing the digital divide in Southwestern Ontario,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “These strategic infrastructure investments are set to bring lasting positive impacts, enhancing economic opportunities, expanding educational access, and improving the overall quality of life for the community.”
The completion of these projects is part of SWIFT’s $270 million regional broadband expansion plan, which aims to provide high-speed internet access to more than 64,000 homes and businesses throughout Southwestern Ontario.
“We’re pleased to complete our fibre Internet project in Brant County, connecting more than 1,600 premises to high-speed fibre Internet,” said Rizwan Jamal, President and Chief Executive Officer, Xplore Inc. “This project underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing rural living, and it builds on the momentum of the additional 5,100 homes we’ve already enabled to connect to fibre as part of the SWIFT initiative. We recognize the profound impact reliable Internet access has on rural communities, and we’re dedicated to continuing our work to connect even more Ontarians to high-speed Internet, ensuring they can enjoy the benefits it brings to their daily lives.”
