Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus contracts will improve broadband access for 12,000 households and businesses

LANARK COUNTY and FRONTENAC COUNTY, Ontario, June 13, 2012 /CNW/ - The Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus (EOWC) has awarded Local Access Contracts that will provide more than 12,000 homes and businesses improved access to high-speed Internet across the western portion of Lanark County. The area also includes a small part of Frontenac County. The service will be available no later than fall 2013, with service reaching some areas later in 2012.

Contracts have been awarded to both Bell Aliant and Storm Internet that will extend high-speed access across the area. Bell Aliant will provide service in more densely populated areas around Perth, Lanark, MacDonald's Corners, and Maberly with 44 kilometres of new fibre optic cable and 11 new access points. Storm Internet, a regional Internet service provider with a base in Perth, will add 13 new sites and upgrade 66 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 16 Mbps, and competitive, urban pricing. These speeds will enable users to stream video and other innovative applications that can support business, health and education.

"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."

In all, 22 local access contracts will be awarded in 15 zones 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 nearing completion 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.

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For more information, contact:
Lisa Severson, Communications & Stakeholder Relations Officer, EORN
613-213-8520, [email protected]