MUSKOKA, Ontario — Lakeland Networks’ parent company, Lakeland Energy, announced Monday it has purchased all of Bracebridge, Ont.-based CORE (Central Ontario Residential and Enterprise) Broadband’s customer business and operations including Interactive North.
CORE operates more than 100 wireless towers across the Muskoka and southern Parry Sound regions and serves almost 2,000 retail and wholesale wireless customers. It has brought to market many leading-edge wireless technologies such as fixed wireless LTE and millimeter wave pre-5G service, says the news release.
Lakeland Networks provides high-speed fibre-optic Internet, including gigabit Internet, and triple-play services (phone, TV, Internet) to customers in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Parry Sound and soon north into Burks Falls and Sundridge.
“With this acquisition, we will be able to expand throughout our service area offering a faster wireless service utilizing our fibre backbone, also provide new services such as a hybrid wireless-fibre to the home and business solution, for the benefit of existing and new customers,” said Chris Litschko, CEO of Lakeland, in the news release.
Neil Smellie, owner of CORE Broadband and Interactive North, added: “I am very proud of the accomplishments CORE Broadband has made in the past. Combining our strengths with Lakeland, our two technologies coming together will benefit customers throughout Muskoka with a more robust and faster Internet experience.”
Smellie and his staff have all accepted positions with Lakeland.
“Neil and his staff are key to this deal as they have incredible knowledge and skill sets that will add to our overall expertise,” said Litschko.
The transaction has been approved by Lakeland’s board of directors and is expected to close on April 1, 2020.
Lakeland Energy serves Bracebridge, Burk’s Falls, Huntsville, Magnetawan, Parry Sound and Sundridge and is municipally-owned by the municipalities.
