High Speed Internet on the Horizon for Zorra Township

Tuesday, 1 June 2021 05:51

Photo Credit: Ernie Hardeman Twitter page, @erniehardeman

Construction crews are hard at work in the northeast section of Zorra Township, expanding fibre-optic broadband services to local homes and businesses.

OXFORD COUNTY - Construction has started to provide more high speed Internet in Zorra Township.

The $5.2 million project will help provide high speed internet to over 320 homes and businesses in Oxford County. Construction started this week the northeast section of the Township of Zorra.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario each committed $1.3 million for the project, which was also supported by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology or SWIFT.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Oxford Ernie Hardeman says this is great news for rural residents in the County.

“The construction of broadband infrastructure in the northeast section of Zorra Township is underway, and more people in Oxford County will soon have access to fast, reliable internet service. This is an important step forward in our plan to support better educational opportunities, attract more businesses and create jobs in the county and builds on our government’s commitment to connect every community in Ontario to broadband internet by 2025.”

The contracts to expand fibre-optic broadband services in Oxford County were awarded by SWIFT. SWIFT is a not-for-profit corporation initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in Southwestern Ontario. Board Chair Gary McNamara says to date, 3,190 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario have received access to improved broadband through SWIFT.

“We are pleased to announce that construction is now underway to bring improved broadband service to Oxford County. SWIFT, in partnership with the federal and provincial governments, announced a combined investment of $10 million to deliver high-speed internet to 1,700 underserved homes and businesses throughout Oxford County. Today’s announcement marks the start of construction on the first of seven awarded SWIFT projects within the County.”