OLIVER PAIPOONGE – If the pandemic has taught us one thing, the internet is an essential tool for living in the modern age. This is why the municipality of Oliver Paipoonage has been working tirelessly with Tbaytel to make high-speed fibre internet a reality for their residents.
Now more than ever, rural Ontario needs access to reliable high-speed Internet as many of us are working, learning, and staying in touch with friends and family from home. Too many people living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. However, through the Universal Broadband Fund, Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get these communities connected.
“High-speed Internet is essential for Northern Ontario. It connects us to work, school and each other,” said The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North. Today’s, “Today’s investment will provide reliable access to 689 households north of Thunder Bay. This project is part of our commitment of $250 million to more than 40 connectivity projects in Ontario that will connect over 90,000 more households to better, more reliable Internet.”
It was recently announced that the fibre lines' construction began where the targeted areas are broken into 11 fibre service areas. Last year, Tbaytel completed installing fibre infrastructure in three fibre service areas and started connecting customers in the remaining areas, which is scheduled to begin as soon as July.
“We’re proud to be able to bring fibre right to the doors of 689 customers in the rural Thunder Bay area. The areas included addresses north of Thunder Bay city limits and were selected as shovel-ready projects that could be completed this year in order to meet funding criteria. We encourage residents to visit our website to see the exact service boundaries that will be covered. Tbaytel would like to thank the Government of Canada for its investment in this vital infrastructure and the people of Northern Ontario for their continued support of Tbaytel,” Dan Topatigh, President and CEO, Tbaytel, remarks.
The fibre service areas that are about to begin construction include:
- Highway 130 in July 2022
- Pole Line Road in Sept 2022
- Highway 102 in Dec 2022
Oliver, Nicholettes, Rosslyn Village and Kakabeka are all planned for 2023.
For more information about this project, visit the Tbaytel Media Center.
