INTERNET UPDATE

Economic growth minister tells Greens that agreements are due to be inked with Bell as early as this week

Green Opposition Leader Peter Bevan-Baker led off question period on Tuesday by asking for an update on the status of a $74 million plan to improve rural internet infrastructure in P.E.I.

The plan, which will be carried out by Bell Canada and Xplornet, has the goal of improving broadband internet services to 30,000 Island residents and businesses.

The project was announced by then-Liberal premier Wade MacLauchlan two weeks before the beginning of the 2019 election.

A March 15 media release announcing the initiative stated the province expected to improve internet access for 6,000 people by the end of 2019.

But, as Bevan-Baker noted, a final agreement has yet to be signed between the province and the two internet providers.

“How close are you to signing a final agreement with Bell and Xplornet, and when can we expect to see work begin on that?” Bevan-Baker asked Matthew MacKay, the current minister of economic growth, tourism and culture.

MacKay said he expects to sign final agreements with Bell by as early as Friday.

“Either by Friday or the first of next week, we’ll be able to roll out that. Xplornet is not far behind. So, within the next twothree weeks, you’re going to see this rolled out and away we go,” MacKay said.

MacKay said he hoped to develop a map to show Islanders the planned improvements to internet services in rural areas. But he acknowledged the progress has been slower than he would like.

“It’s taking a little longer than we want it to, but I want to make sure we get it done right,” MacKay said.

“This is going to roll out soon, and we’re hoping by 2021 that the majority of Islanders will have proper high-speed Internet.”

In an interview, MacKay said he was hoping to start rolling out the first phase of the improved fibre and wireless broadband in the coming weeks.

But MacKay said approximately seven to eight per cent of households would still not have access to broadband by 2021 due to their remote locations. A second phase of the project would attempt to reach these areas.

“Some of them could be nestled in a hill somewhere. It could be down a road four or five miles long and they're the only house," MacKay said.

"We're looking at a Phase II project to see what it's going to cost to get that last seven to eight per cent.

MacKay suggested some smaller providers may be able to help the Islanders in these remote areas.

As for the goal of broadband access for 6,000 additional Island internet users, when asked to confirm that this target would not be met, MacKay said it was set by the previous government.

"That was the previous administration's roll-out. We really took our time to make sure we had done our due diligence on this. I don't have an exact date when that will roll out, but I do have my department working daily on this,” MacKay said.