Rogers Communications Inc. has won the competition to build internet services for rural communities in Eastern Ontario.
The federal and provincial governments will each contribute $71 million to the Eastern Ontario Regional Network. It will be similar to SouthWestern Internet Fibre Technology which is busy signing contracts to provide internet services to rural residences and businesses.
Bell Canada was bidding against Rogers for the deal; Rogers said it will invest $150 million in the partnership.
The project involves building 300 cellular towers and upgrading 350 existing ones and in total will cost more than $300-million.
“This allows us to reach areas that we normally couldn’t because they’re far off the beaten track,” said Dean Prevost, president of Connected Home and Rogers for Business, divisions of Rogers that serve businesses and public-sector clients.
“When it’s done in 2025, this will be an enormous expansion to what exists there today,” Prevost said. Local residents and businesses can expect to start seeing service improvements by the end of the year, he said.
