Deal to deliver broadband, cell service to more than 125,000 rural, remote, Indigenous Manitobans

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This article was published 13/05/2021 (1609 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More than 125,000 unserved or underserved Manitobans are a step closer to receiving reliable high-speed internet and cellular services.

Premier Brian Pallister announced Thursday that the province has signed a memorandum of understanding with Xplornet Communications to improve connectivity to hundreds of rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

He said one of the lessons of the current pandemic is the need to improve Manitoba’s knowledge infrastructure.

“Too many Manitobans — more than in any other part of the country — are deprived of the opportunity of reliable internet and cell service. In particular, our rural and northern communities. In particular, our Indigenous communities,” said Pallister, who was joined by Central Services Minister Reg Helwer at a morning press conference.

“We’ll advance as a province only when we advance our knowledge infrastructure that allows everyone to join in that progress.”

Pallister said the “historic partnership” with Xplornet, one of the country’s leading broadband service providers, will deliver high-speed internet to about 30 First Nations and 270 rural and northern communities.

The agreement will also serve 350 communities with cellphone access.

Through Manitoba Hydro, the province owns thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable, created to communicate with northern hydroelectric facilities and to transmit data.

However, much of the system consists of surplus, unused capacity. Through the agreement, the province will make the surplus capacity available to Xplornet to expand its broadband and cellphone services to Manitobans as early as this fall.

“This innovative agreement makes use of an existing resource already in place that will help Manitobans and advance connectivity between Manitobans and communities throughout the province,” Helwer said.

“Access to Manitoba Hydro’s fibre-optic network and tower infrastructure will also greatly reduce the capital investments Xplornet needs to expand into rural and remote communities, allowing for a positive return on investment and the quick delivery of service to Manitobans,” the minister said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca