Overview

Now more than ever, Ontarians need access to reliable high-speed internet in order to:

  • stay in touch with friends and family
  • access public services like health care and education
  • operate businesses
  • work from anywhere in the province
  • create jobs and enhance economic growth

Our goal is for everyone in Ontario to have access to reliable high-speed internet and cellular connections at home, work and in our communities.

We are making an investment of nearly $4 billion to help bring high-speed internet access to every community across the province by the end of 2025.

Find high-speed internet projects happening near you

Use this map to learn more about high-speed internet access in Ontario. Find information about provincially funded projects that will help ensure access to reliable internet service across the province by the end of 2025. You can search by address, community, or municipality for information on high-speed internet availability and projects in your area.

 


Bringing high-speed internet access to every community in Ontario

New competitive process

Ontario is using a satellite internet service provider to bring high-speed internet access to approximately 43,000 homes and businesses in unserved and underserved communities across the province. In partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, we have launched a competitive process to find a qualified satellite internet service provider. This will ensure that the hardest to reach areas of Ontario that currently cannot be connected to ground-based infrastructure will gain access to reliable high-speed internet.

Speeding up construction and removing barriers for high-speed internet projects

Ontario is also helping to speed up construction of high-speed internet projects in communities across the province through the Building Broadband Faster Act, 2021. This legislation will help reduce barriers that can cause delays with building broadband infrastructure in communities and will help provide access to reliable, high-speed internet sooner, while strengthening communities and the economy. Legislative and regulatory amendments were made to the Building Broadband Faster Act, as part of the Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023, to address barriers to timely municipal permit approvals and allow efficient infrastructure data collection.

We have also updated our Building Broadband Faster in Ontario Guideline to help provide additional clarity and best practices for internet service providers, municipalities, local distribution companies (LDCs) and others to deliver high-speed internet projects faster.

Ontario is helping to remove further barriers, duplication and delays, making it easier and faster to build high-speed internet infrastructure through the Getting Ontario Connected Act, 2022. This legislation will help ensure underserved and unserved communities across the province have access to reliable high-speed internet sooner. Bill 93, Getting Ontario Connected Act, 2022 was introduced on March 7, 2022 and was passed unanimously by the Legislature on April 11, 2022.

These changes remove barriers, duplication and delays, and help ensure every community in Ontario has access to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.


High-speed internet and cellular projects and investments

Learn more about other high-speed internet and cellular projects and investments happening now across Ontario:

Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program (AHSIP)

In 2021, we launched an innovative and transparent competitive process, led by Infrastructure Ontario, that gave telecommunications and internet service providers the opportunity to bid for provincial funding. We have now signed contracts with eight internet service providers to bring better access to homes and businesses in more municipalities across Ontario.

Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program

In 2020, we launched the Improving Connectivity for Ontario (ICON) program. This is a program that aims to improve and expand reliable high-speed internet across Ontario.

In July 2021, Ontario announced an investment of up to $14.7 million for 13 new projects under the (ICON) program, which will bring reliable, high-speed internet to 42 communities across the province.

In October 2021, Ontario announced an additional investment of nearly $1.5 million to help bring high-speed internet access to four communities, impacting over 900 homes and businesses.

Ontario also announced a partnership with the Government of Canada to support large scale, fibre-based projects that will bring high-speed internet access across Ontario through a joint investment of over $1.2 billion from both levels of government. This $3.1 billion total investment will help bring reliable, high-speed internet to up to 280,000 more homes and businesses by the end of 2025.

In April 2022, Ontario announced an additional joint investment of more than $56 million with the Government of Canada for six new projects, which will bring reliable, high-speed internet access to over 6,500 homes and businesses in Northern and Southwestern Ontario, including several First Nation communities.

Brighton Pilot Project

In March 2022, Ontario announced a pilot project, led by Hydro One, to help bring high-speed internet access to up to 1,450 homes and businesses in Brighton. Hydro One will use their existing infrastructure — such as hydro poles — to quickly develop high-speed internet networks. This will allow them to work with internet service providers to help provide high-speed internet access to more residents in Brighton.

Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN)

Rural communities in Eastern Ontario are closer to getting near-complete cellular coverage.

On March 19, 2021 EORN announced that Rogers Communications was awarded the contract for EORN’s Cell Gap Project, to improve the coverage and capacity of cell networks in the region.

Rogers will invest over $150 million to upgrade and expand the regions’ wireless infrastructure over five years. This investment, along with provincial and federal government commitments of up to $71 million each, plus $10 million from all members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and most municipalities within the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, brings the total value of the public-private partnership to more than $300 million.

This project will help rural communities take part in the digital economy, create jobs and improve public safety.

Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT)

We are investing in the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology project to bring high-speed internet to nearly 58,000 more homes and businesses across Southwestern Ontario.

In total, the project will invest nearly $255 million to expand high-speed internet, including funding from federal, provincial and municipal governments.

SWIFT Inc. has awarded contracts to bring high-speed internet to thousands of homes and businesses in:

  • the counties of Lambton, Wellington, Norfolk, Dufferin Oxford, Grey, Bruce, Simcoe, Essex, Brant, Middlesex, Perth Elgin and Huron
  • the Regional Municipality of Niagara
  • the Regional Municipality of Waterloo
  • the Town of Caledon

Bringing high-speed internet to the North

We are investing $10.9 million to bring faster broadband to several northern towns and First Nation communities to help bridge the digital divide across Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation

The province is investing in connectivity projects in underserved and unserved areas through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)’s Broadband and Cellular Expansion Initiative.

For example, NOHFC’s investment in Mishkeegogamang Ojibway First Nation’s project will increase access to high-speed internet for the 600 residents living in their community.

These investments in small-scale, community-led high-speed internet projects support economic development and social well-being, helping to build safe, connected communities in every region of Northern Ontario.

Telesat’s Lightspeed project

Ontario is investing $109.2 million in Telesat's Lightspeed project, the largest space project ever undertaken in Canada, to help meet the increased demand for digital connectivity at home and across the world.

Our partnership with Telesat, a leading-edge Canadian company, will help support:

  • diversifying Ontario's digital infrastructure
  • paving the way for future economic growth and good jobs
  • enhance Ontario’s competitiveness and innovation in the sector

Matawa project

Ontario has invested $30 million in the Matawa project, which will connect five remote Matawa-member First Nation communities to fast and reliable internet service and benefit more than 670 homes and institutions, including schools, airports, band offices, health offices and police stations.

The project will improve quality of life and create vibrant communities by connecting families, driving economic growth and expanding access to education and skills training.

Next Generation Network Program

Ontario has committed $63.3 million over five years to the Next Generation Network Program, a partnership between the Centre of Excellence in Next Generation Networks (CENGN) and the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). To date, 11 projects have been launched, including:

  • Carling Township (near Parry Sound)
  • Migisi Sahgaigan First Nation (near Dryden)
  • Iron Bridge (near Sault Ste. Marie)
  • Municipality of Magnetawan (Ahmic Harbour)
  • Municipality of Temagami
  • Dawn-Euphemia Township (close to Sarnia)
  • Halton Region
  • Township of Alnwick/Haldimand (near Cobourg)
  • Holland Marsh
  • City of Kenora – Northern Lake Region
  • Nipissing First Nation

Projects include bringing high-performance high-speed internet access to 200 homes in Parry Sound and Carling Township, and the introduction of high speed, reliable internet services to the communities of Dawn-Euphemia township. More projects are planned in the future.

These innovative projects demonstrate and validate new technology solutions that can be applied in other rural and Northern Ontario communities.

Connecting libraries

Ontario’s public libraries are important parts of our communities. We are investing more than $4.8 million to upgrade internet at public libraries in areas of need.

ENCQOR initiative

Ontario is helping to ensure the province has access to the best next-generation technologies. The province has committed $66.7 million over five years to build the world’s first pre-commercial 5G wireless network for open innovation through the Evolution of Networked Services through the Corridor in Quebec and Ontario for Research and Innovation (ENCQOR) initiative.

This will help us develop the 5G applications of the future.


Supporting digital learning

Education Broadband Modernization Program

Ontario’s schools need strong high-speed internet capacity to support a modern education system. We have made significant investments in broadband infrastructure as we work to bring high-speed internet access to every community across the province by the end of 2025, and to help ensure students across the province can:

  • access online learning resources
  • connect with experts
  • collaborate on project worldwide

As of March 31, 2022, high-speed internet modernization is complete at 4,937 schools, benefiting more than 2 million students, including in rural and Northern communities.  

Learning at home resources

TVO Learn and TFO’s IDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison support students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 who want to build their skills by accessing additional educational resources developed by Ontario certified teachers. All resources are directly aligned to the Ontario curriculum and can be used on their own, or to support learning activities provided by classroom teachers.

TVO’s Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House provides access to about 150 Grade 9 to 12 courses. These ILC resources are not for credit but are designed to provide flexible learning opportunities to help students keep up with their learning or deepen their understanding of a specific subject.

Online learning

Online learning can help students learn to harness technology to their benefit and develop into lifelong learners.

Ontario is committed to modernizing the delivery of online learning courses to increase student access to high-quality public education and position the province as a global leader in online learning.

As of July 21, 2020, changes were made to enable the Ministry of Education to expand the mandates of TVO and TFO to take on a central leadership role in supporting online learning in the publicly-funded school system. This will give secondary students more choice in high-quality online learning courses — no matter where they live or go to school.

Virtual Learning Strategy for postsecondary education

The Virtual Learning Strategy, launched in 2020, positions Ontario as a global leader in postsecondary education, with flexible virtual learning opportunities that help all learners acquire the skills and training needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Through the Virtual Learning Strategy, Ontario is:

  • expanding access to flexible, hybrid learning opportunities, that give learners a fair chance to gain the skills needed to meet the needs of today's job market, wherever they are
  • providing tools and technologies for learners in small, rural, remote, Indigenous and Francophone communities
  • helping deliver courses to students who might not otherwise access postsecondary education

To support this strategy, Ontario invested over $70 million in virtual learning and educational technologies to expand high-quality, market-responsive hybrid education across the province.

Contact North

Funded by the province, Contact North helps improve access to life-long virtual learning at the postsecondary education level for Ontarians living in underserved rural, northern, Indigenous and Francophone communities that lack high-speed internet connectivity or direct physical access to educational or training opportunities.

Contact North’s services are provided at no cost to learners and are available in English and French.

eCampusOntario

eCampusOntario is funded by the Government of Ontario to drive excellence in online and technology enabled learning in the postsecondary sector. All publicly assisted colleges, universities, and six Indigenous Institutes in Ontario are members of this organization. Through collaboration, eCampusOntario builds Ontario’s capacity to deliver high-quality, cost-effective online learning opportunities across the postsecondary system, including by helping to implement Ontario’s Virtual Learning Strategy.