Millions of dollars are coming to New Brunswick to help bring high-speed internet to rural areas of the province.
It’s part of the federal government’s plans to bring high-speed internet to every household in Canada by 2030.
Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger and Fredericton-Oromocto MP David Myles made the announcement May 13 in Keswick Ridge.
It includes $73 million for two projects – one led by Rogers Communications Inc. and the other by Xplore.
The projects are expected to bring access to more than 27,600 households in New Brunswick.
“High-speed internet is no longer a luxury,” Belanger said in a statement. “It’s a necessity, no matter where you live in Canada.”
Belanger said it’s how people access virtual health care, start a business or stay in touch with friends and family.
Rogers chief technology officer Mark Kennedy said the company recognizes how important reliable internet is for Canadians.
Xplore Inc. CEO Brent Johnston said his company is committed to bringing fast, reliable connectivity to communities across the province.
“This build is an important step to improve access to modern, reliable connectivity across the province,” he said.
The funding is part of the Universal Broadband Fund, a $3.225-billion investment by the federal government.
Today, 96.3 per cent of Canadian households have access to high-speed internet, compared to 79 per cent in 2014.
In New Brunswick, 95.6 per cent of households have high-speed internet access.
