Breaking News

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to benefit from historic $136 million plan to connect all remaining rural households in the province to high-speed Internet

Today, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced a historic collaboration to provide up to $136 million to connect all remaining rural households in Newfoundland and Labrador to reliable high-speed Internet.
Up to $116 million of this funding comes from the Government of Canada, through its Universal Broadband Fund, and up to $20 million comes from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Through this collaboration, the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador will work with Internet service providers to achieve the national target of connecting 98% of Canadians by 2026 and 100% by 2030.
The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador recognize the important role access to high-speed Internet will have in economic recovery following the pandemic. Collaborating to provide better Internet services to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador living in rural, remote and northern communities will help create jobs and contribute to the economic growth of the entire province. As we work to rebuild from the pandemic, the Government of Canada will continue to make investments in infrastructure to build strong communities and a more competitive and resilient Canada for everyone.

Quotes

“We need to close this connection gap and ensure that every nook and cranny of Newfoundland and Labrador has access to reliable high-speed Internet—from Red Bay in Labrador to Tizzard’s Harbour, from Salvage to Cape Broyle, or from Wabana to right here in my backyard of Humber Valley. That’s why today’s collaboration to invest up to $136 million to connect all remaining rural households in the province is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Government of Canada will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian and achieve our national target of connecting 98% of Canadians by 2026 and 100% by 2030.”
– The Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains

“An investment in broadband is an investment in communities. It spurs economic growth and improves access to a range of services, from health care to educational opportunities. In my travels around the province, the need for reliable broadband is often raised by residents and community leaders—and our government has been committed to addressing it. I acknowledge the federal government, specifically Minister Hutchings, and the commitment to close the connectivity gap throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.”
– The Honourable Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Quick facts

  • This agreement represents a plan to connect all remaining underserved households in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is just over 60,000 households.
  • Canada’s Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.
  • The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a $2.75 billion investment by the Government of Canada designed to help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. Only the hardest to reach households may take until 2030.
  • Since 2015, the Government of Canada has announced $29 million in funding for 41 projects to bring improved speeds to 18,416 households in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. Find out more on the High-speed Internet for all of Canada page.

Related posts:

  1. Niger State: Rural Women to benefit from $15m World Bank scheme The Niger State in North Central Nigeria, is to benefit $15m from the World Bank to advancing various Women Projects. The Spokesperson of the Governor...
  2. 45 minutes from Sydney to Newcastle? A new plan for high-speed trains in New South Wales has been unveiledDedicated high-speed rail lines could connect Sydney to Newcastle, Wollongong and the state’s west as part of a new long-term plan to boost public transport in New South Wales. The...
  3. Sydney to Newcastle in just 45 minutes?  New plan for high-speed trains across New South WalesHigh-speed rail lines could connect Sydney to Newcastle, Wollongong, and the state’s west as part of a long-term plan to boost public transport in NSW. The project was...
  4. Iran’s Shahed-136 “kamikaze” drone kills UkrainiansRussia has once again bombarded Ukraine with “kamikaze” suicide drones, resulting in mayhem in Kyiv as buildings caught fire and terrified residents ran for safety...
  5. Outrage as a ‘cherished’ piece of rural heritage is removed from a historic East Anglian farming museum.The approach to local identity of a rural museum that was renamed because its previous title was deemed ‘confusing’ is drawing criticism. The Institution of...
  6. KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube outlined an ambitious plan to make the province a technological and economic powerhousePremier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has outlined an ambitious strategy for KwaZulu-Natal to emerge stronger and be recognised as an economic and technological powerhouse as the province’s...
  7. As part of a rescue plan to assist households, Liz Truss intends to raise the income tax thresholds.As part of a significant package of policies intended to relieve the cost of living squeeze, Liz Truss is prepared to boost income tax levels....
  8. The road must be closed once again because the speed bump is 5 centimeters too high after a renovation costing half a million pounds.A road that reopened after a three-month, 500,000-pound renovation will be closed once again because a speed bump was almost five centimeters too high. Norfolk...
  9. North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reaffirms its commitment to implement Cannabis Master PlanThe Northwest Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reiterated its commitment to implementing the Cannabis Master Plan into the province’s agriculture transformation. During a...
  10. Nigeria Internet Registration Association, tells govt to REDUCE internet costMuhammed Rudman, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, has urged the government to make the Internet more accessible to all Nigerians. Rudman made the...