High-speed internet coming to Middlebro

High-speed internet is coming to Middlebro thanks to an investment by the federal government.

As part of Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, the government aims to provide all Canadians with access to internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload. The goal is to give high-speed internet access to every household in the country by 2030; currently 97 percent have access. In Manitoba, 94 percent of households have access to high-speed internet compared to 2017 when only 69.8 percent had access.

“High-speed internet isn’t a luxury; it’s essential and foundational infrastructure,” stated Buckley Belanger, federal secretary of state for rural development. “For people in rural and remote communities in Manitoba, having a reliable connection levels the playing field and can make all the difference in being able to access vital virtual health care, work online, or just keep in touch with loved ones.”

The more than $96.8 million initiative will see up to 7,875 households in about 50 Manitoba communities get access, all of which is paid through the $3.2 billion Universal Broadband Fund. Since 2015, the federal government has invested more than $322 million in connectivity projects in the province.

“People are excited because obviously many people out there, they don’t have the access of Wi-Fi, number one, unless they go satellite or anything of that sort,” said RM of Piney Coun. Mark Bernard, councillor for the Middlebro area.

“I know people in Middlebro that are really happy that it’s coming through because even though we have a good signal, cell phone signal there, I think this comes with a landline and a few other things…So, it’s always good to have different options for our rate payers,” he added.

Valley Fiber Ltd. will lay the lines down in Middlebro with an estimated completion date of March 2028. Currently, residents have the option of Telus, Bell, Xplore Net, and Starlink.

“I hope that the residents are patient with (Valley Fiber while they’re) doing their work. And it’s the RM’s expectation that they leave the ground the same or better than when they started,” said Bernard.

“It’s always good when you have different options and competition is good. It keeps everyone honest.”