$96.8 Million to Bridge the Digital Divide in Rural and Indigenous Communities

Aerial view of the port of Churchill, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

In an effort to close the digital divide that still isolates many regions, the federal government has announced a $96.8 million investment to connect up to 7,875 households to high-speed internet across more than 50 rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in Manitoba.

A Partnership to Accelerate Deployment

The project will be led on the ground by Valley Fiber Ltd., working closely with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which is injecting resources to accelerate broadband connectivity work.

For Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, this investment is a vital driver for growth.

“High-speed internet networks are essential infrastructure that support the growth and prosperity of communities. Investments of this scale help close infrastructure gaps, open up new opportunities, and ensure that our fellow citizens remain connected, no matter where they live.”

Rebecca Chartrand in Parliament
Rebecca Chartrand, minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Member of Parliament for Churchill–Keewatinook Aski. Photo : The Canadian Press / Adrian Wyld

Meanwhile, Ryan Klassen, CEO of Valley Fiber, explained that these networks are now “at the very heart of learning, healthcare, and economic opportunities,” ensuring that his teams have the necessary experience to bring the project to fruition quickly.

The Goal of Full Connectivity by 2030

This funding comes from the Universal Broadband Fund, a federal program with a $3.225 billion budget.

The State of High-Speed Internet in Canada (according to Ottawa):

  • 97.4% of Canadian households currently have access to high-speed internet (compared to just 79% in 2014).

  • 94.1% of households are served in Manitoba.

  • Over $322 million has been invested by Ottawa in Manitoba since 2015 to improve the network.

The national target aims for a minimum speed of 50 Mbps for downloading and 10 Mbps for uploading.

Related stories from around the North :

Norway: New satellites to boost communications in Arctic Norway, The Independent Barents Observer

Russia: Russian military to get fast, secure internet through trans-Arctic cable, The Independent Barents Observer

United States: $30.3 million grant announced to build up high-speed internet in rural Alaska, Eye on the Arctic

 

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