Cogeco, TekSavvy, to build
CHATHAM – Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology today announced it has awarded $19.3 million in contracts to expand fibre networks to 4,584 households and businesses throughout Chatham-Kent and within Delaware Nation – Moravian of the Thames community.
$7.4 million comes from SWIFT’s member municipalities, including Chatham-Kent, to support the expansion of broadband services throughout the municipality and within Delaware Nation – Moravian of the Thames community. $11.9 million will be contributed by the service providers doing the construction, which includes TekSavvy.
“The commitment and contributions of SWIFT, TekSavvy and the Eelŭnaapéewi Lahkéewiit (Delaware Nation) Council has provided an optical fibre foundation for the community’s members and businesses to access broadband services. The ability to navigate the high-speed highways of global information and efficient communications; the ability to access new educational or economic opportunities. 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,” said Chief Denise Stonefish, Delaware Nation – Moravian of the Thames, in the SWIFT press release.
TekSavvy Solutions has been awarded funding to support three fibre-to-the-home projects. The newly awarded projects will collectively service 99 kilometres of underserved roadway to bring high-speed internet to 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 represent a collective total investment of approximately $9.2 million and will be completed with service available between late 2021 and early 2022, reads the release.
SWIFT has also 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.
