Ontario Invests $18.4 Million to Bring High-Speed Internet Access to Thousands of Eastern Ontario Residents

Kemptville — The Ontario government is investing $18.4 million in support of Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) broadband expansion projects. In partnership with five local Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the Eastern Ontario Infill Broadband Project will bring reliable high-speed internet access to 2,875 premises in 23 municipalities across eastern Ontario.

“The continued progress we’re making on filling critical high-speed internet service gaps is making a real difference in the lives of thousands of residents, businesses, and visitors across eastern Ontario,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. “We know that reliable high-speed internet is essential in today’s digital world, and our investment of nearly $4 billion toward broadband expansion projects, like this one, will ensure that no one is left behind in the ability to connect.”

“Today’s announcement is another example of how our government is supporting rural Ontario residents and businesses by ensuring they have access to reliable high-speed internet,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I’ve been a strong advocate for this investment to fill broadband gaps in hard-to-service areas of Leeds and Grenville, and I’m proud to deliver because it is vital to our economic success.”

MPP Clark stressed that $12.1 million of the investment is targeted for Leeds and Grenville, which will connect approximately 1,500 homes to broadband service.

“High-speed internet is essential to rural economic development, and this investment will make a real difference for families, farmers, and businesses in my municipality of Leeds and the Thousand Islands and across Leeds and Grenville,” said Corinna Smith-Gatcke, Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. “Closing service gaps will help create jobs, support innovation, and build stronger, more connected communities. We thank the province for its commitment to delivering the infrastructure our region needs to grow.”

“I’m very pleased that the province has partnered with EORN and local internet service providers to bring better broadband access to our communities,” said Roger Haley, Mayor of Front of Yonge Township.

“On behalf of EORN, I want to thank the Province of Ontario for its continued commitment to closing the digital divide in eastern Ontario. This support makes a huge impact for our residents, businesses, and communities, ensuring they have the reliable, high-speed internet they need to succeed,” said Jennifer Murphy, Chair of the Eastern Ontario Regional Network. “The province’s investment shows true leadership and commitment to helping underserved areas get connected. We’re proud to work with the Government of Ontario and our local internet service provider partners to keep improving connectivity across our region.”

In partnership with EORN, five local ISPs (Kingston Online Services, Storm Internet Services, WTC Communications, IGS Hawkesbury and NRTC Communications) will deploy a mix of next-generation Fixed Wireless and Fibre-to-the-Home technologies, including the construction of 11 new Fixed Wireless towers, upgrades to 13 existing towers, and the deployment of approximately 248 kilometres of fibre to close broadband gaps in Eastern Ontario.

To date, the project has successfully connected 371 premises with high-speed internet access and expects to have just over 1,000 premises connected by the end of 2025, with the remaining properties to be connected by June 2026.

Ontario is continuing to make swift progress on its commitment to connect every community in the province to high-speed internet through the largest broadband expansion in Canadian history.

QUICK FACTS

• EORN was created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and has completed major projects to build a high-capacity fibre-optic backbone network in Eastern Ontario.
• The project will provide high-speed internet access to 2,875 premises in 23 municipalities across Eastern Ontario.
• The project’s Transfer Payment Agreement was signed on June 1, 2025, for $18.4 million.