Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus awards contracts to connect nearly 40,000 Households and Businesses to Eastern Ontario's Broadband Network

FRONTENAC COUNTY, LANARK COUNTY, UNITED COUNTIES OF LEEDS & GRENVILLE, UNITED COUNTIES OF STORMONT, DUNDAS AND GLENGARRY, ONTARIO, April 4, 2012 /CNW/ - The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) has awarded Local Access Contracts that will provide nearly 40,000 homes and businesses improved access to high-speed Internet across the southern portion of Ottawa Valley. The area includes a small part of Frontenac County, eastern Lanark County, northern parts of the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville and a northwestern corner of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. The service will be available by fall 2013.

Contracts have been awarded to both Bell Aliant and Storm that will extend high-speed access across the area. Bell Aliant will provide service in more densely populated areas around Portland, Smith Falls and Kemptville with 76 kilometres of new fibre optic cable and new access points. Storm, a regional Internet service provider, will add 40 new sites and upgrade existing sites to expand the reach and speed of their existing wireless network across the area.

The combined contracts will provide customers with state-of-the-art technology, a wide range of options up to 10 Mbps or more, and competitive, urban pricing.

"We are extremely pleased to announce these contracts," said Mel Campbell, Chair of the EOWC. "We continue to make steady progress on our goal of expanding high-speed broadband Internet access across Eastern Ontario."

This is the seventh zone to be awarded contracts to deliver high-speed Internet through wired and fixed wireless services as part of the Eastern Ontario regional broadband project. The $170 million project is funded by federal, provincial and municipal governments and private sector investment. Work to build a massive, 5,500-km fibre optic network is already underway and contracts have also been signed to deliver high-speed via satellite at improved pricing.

"With this contract, we've taken another important step towards building a new regional network that will improve quality of life and fuel economic growth," added Dave Burton, Chair of Eastern Ontario Regional Network Inc., (EORN). "It will improve Internet access, offer greater choice to our local residents and businesses and support the success of our community."

EORN is a not-for-profit organization established by the EOWC to manage all contracts awarded as part of the project.

Once up and running, customers will be able to choose packages ranging from 1.5 Mbps to up to 10 Mbps or more. These speeds will enable users to stream video and other innovative applications that will support various sectors, including business, health and education.

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Lisa Severson, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Officer, EORN
613-213-8520, [email protected]