By year’s end, 11,000 homes and businesses in rural Northumberland County will have access to reliable high-speed internet.
Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander shared his thoughts about the timeline of a “transformative” new broadband network following the county’s recent announcement that construction of the network is underway. The broadband project has been discussed for a few years now but there will be tangible outcomes soon, the warden said.
“We expect this broadband rollout, which will connect 11,000 homes and businesses, will be completed by the end of this year,” Ostrander told kawarthaNOW.
Axle Telecom — part of a family of Canadian-owned telecommunications companies owned by Windsor Private Capital’s WPC Infrastructure Fund that also includes EH!tel Networks, Bruce Telecom, and GBTel — is constructing the network.
“As the fibre is installed each neighbourhood will be contacted by Axle Telecom to find out if they want to sign up for fibre-to-the-home connections,” Ostrander said. “When the installers are in a community, the county will be sure to communicate broadly so that residents are aware of the rollout and opportunity to connect.”
Historically, Northumberland’s varied landscape has been noted as making access to reliable high-speed internet a challenge. That is now changing, according to the county.
With final agreements in place between Northumberland County, the federal and provincial governments, and private sector partner Windsor Private Capital, construction has begun on the project anticipated to “close the digital divide in our community, ensuring every municipality, along with Alderville First Nation, has the connectivity needed for work, education, health care, and more,” a media release noted.
According to the county, crews are steadily installing fibre optic lines and completing the first property connections. Construction will continue throughout 2025, expanding across the county in stages, with the goal of bringing broadband to homes, farms, and businesses across the region.
The project addresses a significant infrastructure gap, with approximately one-third of Northumberland households currently either unserved or underserved by high-speed internet.
Originally announced in 2022 with a $26.6 million investment from the province and an $18.4 million from the federal government through the Universal Broadband Fund, the provincial contribution has since increased to $45.8 million, bringing the combined federal and provincial contribution to $64.2 million.
“This project will be a game-changer for people in Northumberland County,” said Buckley Belanger, federal secretary of state for rural development, in a statement. “Reliable high-speed internet means safer communities and better access to health care, education, and emergency services.”
Northumberland County has also committed $700,000 towards the initiative.
As part of the project, 1,125 kilometres of fibre optic cable will be installed throughout Northumberland County. Fibre installation is taking place primarily within the existing municipal road allowances, using underground techniques where possible and aerial installation only when necessary. Methods such as directional drilling and plowing are being used to reduce impacts on the environment and existing infrastructure. All disturbed areas will be restored once construction is complete, the release noted.
As Ostrander said, once construction progresses over the coming year, Axle Telecom will contact homeowners and businesses to seek consent for a voluntary, no-cost fibre connection from the roadside network directly to each property.
The first phase of construction is underway in the municipalities of Port Hope and Trent Hills. As each area is completed and network testing is finalized, residents and businesses who are connected to the network will be able to subscribe to service plans offered by Axle Telecom.
According to Axle Telecom’s website, three options will be available: 150 megabits-per-second upload and download for $64.95 per month, 500 megabits-per-second upload and download for $74.95 per month, and one gigabit-per-second upload and download for $99.95 per month. All packages include unlimited data.
“This partnership represents years of planning and collaboration to bring high-speed internet to every corner of Northumberland,” Ostrander said. “We are now moving quickly into the construction phase, ensuring that no community is left behind.”
For more information about the project, visit northumberland.ca/broadband. To learn more about internet connection plan options, residents and businesses can contact Axle Telecom at 1-844-702-2848 or visit axletelecom.ca.
