The COVID-19 pandemic has forced students across Ontario to transition their education to online e-learning. In smaller, more rural communities this has led many students and parents to a quick realization: their internet isn’t capable of reaching the required speeds.
Internet infrastructure in rural communities is often quite outdated, and what speeds were necessary when the infrastructure was built no longer are sufficient in a modern world. While service providers such as Bell and Rogers offer low-cost high speed internet in urban areas such as London, the services they offer in rural areas are often nowhere near as fast. In recent years, companies such as Xplorenet have entered the marketplace, specializing in rural high speed internet access. Another recent option that is becoming available is satellite internet from Elon Musk’s StarLink. YouTube channel ShortCircuit explains how it works:
Many Ontarians have been pushing the government for financial support in upgrading the internet systems in rural areas, and recently both the federal and provincial government committed together more than $1.4 million towards expanding access to high speed internet for rural areas throughout Norfolk County. When completed in August of 2021, the project will bring internet service to 2,116 homes and businesses in the community.
Bryan May, Member of Parliament for Cambridge said “This critical investment in high-speed internet infrastructure ensures more people can connect, work, and study, especially during COVID-19… The internet is no longer a luxury so we must continue to connect rural communities and every family with broadband internet.”
According to the Government of Ontario, this is just one step of many towards expanding broadband internet access across more remote areas of the province.
The Ontario government investing nearly $1 billion over the next six years to improve and expand broadband internet access across the province. Ontario will be spending $680 million on top of the $315 million to support Up to Speed: Ontario’s Broadband and Cellular Action Plan. This funding will be used to create jobs and connect unserved and underserved areas throughout Ontario during COVID-19 and beyond.
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