Rural internet fibre expansion announced

Communities in the municipalities of Barrington, Shelburne, Yarmouth and Digby are on track for improved internet services.

The two projects were included in a series of major Internet projects announced on Feb. 7 as part of the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative. A total of $7.4 million from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust is allocated to the projects, in addition to funding from service providers and the municipal units.

One project is the result of a collaboration between the Western Regional Enterprises Network (REN), the Municipalities of the Districts of Barrington, Digby and Yarmouth, Develop NS and Bell Canada, who worked together to identify the most underserved communities, and solutions that can evolve with changing technologies.

“The funds from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust and the municipalities will bring high speed internet service to multiple communities in the region that otherwise may not have had a strong business case, reaching approximately 1,690 new homes and businesses with direct connections to Bell’s all-fibre network,” said Angelique LeBlanc CEO of Western REN “This project is critical for the businesses and residents in the region and we continue to work with our partners to expand access in other underserviced areas. This first phase of funding was for projects that could be completed within the timeline of the next year. It’s an exciting first step in an incremental process to reach more communities in the region.”

In the Municipality of Barrington, 950 premises between Lower East Pubnico through

to Doctor’s Cove will have access to the new service; in the Municipality of Digby, 422 premises from Waterford to East Ferry; and in the Municipality of Yarmouth, 318 premises from Arcadia to Pinkney’s Point.

The Municipality of Barrington is contributing $200,000 towards the project; the Municipality of Digby, $100,000 and the Municipality of Yarmouth, $75,000.

The Municipality of District

of Clare is contributing $927,000 plus has committed $1.5 million more funding, with an additional investment of $2.2 million from Mainland Telecom to improve highspeed Internet service in their municipality for an additional 3,500 homes and businesses not eligible under the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative.

“Improving rural Internet service is a priority and having a strong Internet network will help our Municipality build places where businesses and people prosper,” said Barrington Municipal Warden Eddie Nickerson in a press release.

While there is ongoing work to improve Internet infrastructure on Cape Sable Island and in Barrington Passage but there will still be areas in the Municipality, specifically the Villagedale/Port La Tour/Baccaro areas, that will remain underserved, said Warden Nickerson adding the Municipality is committed to improving Internet in those areas and will continue to work with its partners to actively pursue other funding opportunities.

The second project is in the Municipality of Shelburne and is expected to provide high-speed Internet access to approximately 95 per cent of homes and businesses in communities throughout the Municipality.

“Soon every district within the municipality will have access to high-speed Internet,” said Shelburne Municipal Warden Penny Smith. “Being able to provide this superior Internet service will not only be beneficial to our current residents, businesses and institutions, but will also have a direct economic and social impact, attracting new businesses, especially home-based businesses, as well as professionals to the community. Along with our pristine