CENGN ANNOUNCES NEXT NORTHERN ONTARIO BROADBAND PROJECT IN THE HURON SHORES COMMUNITY OF IRON BRIDGE

 

In December 2019, The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) was made aware of the Centre of Excellence for Next Generation Networks (CENGN) Northern Ontario Residential Broadband Program. This program allows communities in the North to apply for funding that would allow the community and a Technology Provider to receive funding for an innovative project that demonstrates a technology solution that can offer flexible, low cost, high performance residential broadband for their community. SSMIC in collaboration with BlueSkyNet provided support to four communities in the Algoma region in their applications.

With projects being funded for 3-6 months, they are designed to test new technologies and validate business case solutions to improve high-speed internet access to residences within Northern Ontario communities. 

In addition to communities submitting applications, Technology Providers were also be required to submit applications (Expressions of Interest). These Technology Providers, through the Expression of Interest demonstrated their interest in providing equipment, technology and support services to be used in the live 3 – 6 month technology project. Based on the Technology Provider submissions, CENGN selected a technology solution that can be installed and tested to provide a significantly improved level of residential broadband service to the selected community, and in the process, demonstrate a marked improvement in the business case for residential broadband access for the community.

 

We are thrilled to learn that the Iron Bridge community has been matched with Leepfrog Telecom (Technology Provider) and are the selected recipients of this funding program. 

 

Iron Bridge is a Huron Shores community in the Algoma region, where 45% of residents have no internet coverage. This innovative technology project will allow for the greater Algoma region to learn from this project to determine feasibility for broader deployment to all areas within Algoma who have limited or no internet coverage. 

 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the realization of the importance of connectivity to our education, healthcare and economic development, this Proof of Concept technology project will help to close the gap for the Iron Bridge residents, and potentially other communities in the future.