Broadband Expansion Plan Underway In Essex County

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Construction is underway to improve broadband service in Essex County.

On Friday, TekSavvy Solutions broke ground in Lighthouse Cove as part of the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) partnership with the federal and provincial governments and private sector investors to deliver high-speed internet to more than 5,170 underserved homes and businesses within Essex County.

“This is a great day for the residents of Lighthouse Cove and the beginning of great things for thousands of residents of Essex County, who will soon have access to high-speed internet and the tremendous opportunities it creates for prosperity, education, innovation and continued economic growth,” said Gary McNamara, Essex County Warden and SWIFT Board Chair. “This pandemic has shown us that connectivity is not a luxury, but an essential service and SWIFT deserves credit for moving so quickly to bring fast and reliable internet to residents and businesses in southwestern Ontario, from the farm field to the factory floor.”

The $2.1 million project is expected to be completed, with service fully available by early 2022.

“It’s great to see shovels now in the ground in Essex County, and we are proud to be partnering with TekSavvy Solutions in the expansion of broadband service in the community of Lighthouse Cove,” said Barry Field, Executive Director, SWIFT. “This is the first of the five awarded SWIFT projects within Essex County to start construction. Over the upcoming weeks, we anticipate that the awarded service providers will continue to break ground in the remaining project areas throughout the municipality to bring greater connectivity to the region.”