Executive summary

Ontario is delivering on its plan to bring reliable high-speed internet access to every community across the province. Today, more than 96% of Ontarians have access to high-speed internet, keeping the province on track to bring access to all homes and businesses by the end of 2028. This progress is being driven by Ontario’s nearly $4 billion investment — the single largest high-speed internet expansion in Canadian history.

To expedite the delivery of designated high-speed internet projects, remove barriers and guarantee results, we have developed the fifth iteration of the Building Broadband Faster in Ontario guideline in partnership with stakeholders and partner ministries.

Revision history

The guideline was first released on November 30, 2021 (Version 1.0), and updated on the following dates to reflect new legislation, regulations and processes that have been put in place since the beginning of the broadband program:

  • August 4, 2022 (Version 2.0)
  • August 14, 2023 (Version 3.0)
  • January 28, 2025 (Version 4.0)

On August 14, 2026, we released the current guideline (Version 5.0).

Together, these changes will help stakeholders develop and deliver high-speed internet projects faster by streamlining processes and removing barriers that may result in additional costs and delays.

Key sections of the guideline

In summary, the updated guideline:

  • provides guidance on new regulatory requirements from amendments to O. Reg. 410/22 under the Ontario Energy Board Act
  • highlights Ontario’s additional make-ready investment that was made for internet-service-provider-owned (ISP-owned) poles
  • reflects current best practices and lessons learned to address common questions received from delivery partners and prevalent on-the-ground issues impacting broadband delivery
  • provides guidance on navigating the Conservation Authorities (CAs) permitting
  • describes Duty to Consult (DTC) requirements.
  • reflects that the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) is now responsible for provincial broadband programs

Who uses the guideline

This guideline is meant to be used by stakeholders involved in provincially funded high-speed internet projects, which may include:

  • local distribution companies (LDC)
  • internet service providers (ISP)
  • telecommunications service providers (TSPs)
  • Ontario One Call and their respective members
  • dedicated locators
  • municipalities

It will also be of interest to other parties, including:

Disclaimer

If you require this information in an alternative format, please email broadband@ontario.ca. We will:

  • acknowledge your request within 3 business days
  • provide you with the content within 15 business days