Rural Manitoba high-speed internet expansion ‘exciting news’

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This article was published 04/10/2024 (381 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sixteen rural communities in Manitoba will receive high-speed fibre internet thanks to an investment from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

On Thursday, the CRTC announced it is committing more than $8 million to Brandon-based Westman Communications Group to build approximately 310 kilometres of transport fibre infrastructure.

It’s part of the action the CRTC is taking to help ensure all Canadians have access to high-speed internet, according to Vicky Eatrides, the organization’s chairperson and CEO.

“This will improve access to health care and other government services, support small businesses and create new economic opportunities,” Eatrides said in a news release.

The projects will improve access to reliable and high-quality internet service to Dauphin from Neepawa and to Minitonas from Dauphin.

They are two of the most underserved corridors in Manitoba according to Bud Keys, president and CEO of Westman Communications, a co-operative that aims to extend its services to as many small communities as possible.

“Any time (we’re) given the opportunity to expand our network to bring our services to more people, obviously, it’s exciting news,” Keys told the Free Press.

As a result, more than 1,400 households will have access to the “equivalent to the fastest (internet) speeds you could get anywhere in the country,” he said.

Westman Communications is contributing financial backing to the project, which will cost “well north of $10 million,” Keys said. He expects work to start in spring 2025.

The CRTC is committing its investment in the project through its Broadband Fund. Launched in 2019, the fund helps connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities across Canada. To date, the fund has improved high-speed internet and cellphone service in 270 communities.

aaron.epp@freepress.mb.ca