Fibre line installation taking place throughout SDG Counties
Sept 5, 2024 - In 2021 the Province Of Ontario passed the Supporting Broadband and Infrastructure Expansion Act, 2021 to help speed up construction of high-speed internet, especially in rural settings. This was complemented by the Getting Ontario Connected Act, 2022, which further reduces barriers, duplication and delays.
As a consequence, home owners in our region have already begun to be approached by representatives from telecommunications companies that are building the fibre network. As the construction unfolds in our region, more homes will be connected.
Homeowners without fibre at their property can expect that a representative from a telecom company (Bell, Rogers, Xplornet, etc.) to pay a visit, and request written permission to install a fibre line, stretching from the road allowance to the home. There is no charge for the connection, and there is no obligation to subscribe to the services offered by the telecom company.
Typically three attempts are made to contact a homeowner, to seek permission for the installation, These interactions are almost always done in-person:
- Attempt 1 is a notice and door knock two weeks prior to construction.
- Attempt 2 is one week prior to construction.
- Attempt 3 first week of construction.
If property owners decline, or do not respond to attempts to get permission, it cannot be confirmed that the telecom will return to secure a connection that is free of charge.
PLEASE NOTE: If you receive a phone call from an individual claiming to be from a telecommunications company, please check to confirm the authenticity of any offers presented. Some residents have reported scams involving bad actors who claim to represent legitimate interests.
Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to at least make the fibre connection to their home. While decisions on whether to pay for a subscribed service will always rest with the property owner, having a free option to connect to a high-speed Internet connection adds value to a home and could pay off in the future, should a homeowner decide they wish to avail themselves of specific fibre optic Internet services.
Each local municipality in SDG Counties may have one or more different telecoms installing fibre lines in their jurisdiction. If you have questions about the service, or the work being done, please reach out to the telecom company installing the infrastructure on your street or road.
More Details: Ontario connects: making high-speed internet accessible in every community | ontario.ca
High-Speed Internet Access Map
Explore the interactive map that identifies the locations and details of provincially funded high-speed internet projects, as well as the location of existing high-speed internet service availability.
The map provides users with the ability to search by address, community or municipality to find project details, including construction status, provincial and federal contribution, and who the internet service providers are: Ontario High-Speed Internet Access Map.
This map also shows where high-speed internet service is currently available in communities across Ontario. This includes the minimum service standard of 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload speeds, or 50/10 as set by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
The high-speed internet map will be updated by the Ministry of Infrastructure when new information becomes available, including modifying project details, or adding new government funded projects. Additional provincially funded high-speed internet projects will also be added to the map as project agreements are finalized. If you have any questions, please contact the ministry at: broadband@ontario.ca.
Internet Performance Test Tool
Test your internet speed and see the speed of other users in the community with the Internet Performance Test Tool from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). The test takes less than a minute to complete and you'll be provided with a readout of your download and upload speeds, as well as other service metrics including jitter, latency and packet loss. It will allow you to see the performance of the connection you are paying for and what others are receiving. The test results are continually being collected and are anonymized and added to a national database of internet performance data that provides researchers, policymakers and the public with an overall view of connectivity in Canada.