Province, Xplornet moving forward with internet upgrades for rural, northern Manitoba

Thousands of Manitobans in rural and northern areas are one step closer to having faster internet.

The province says it has finalized a contribution agreement with Xplornet to provide close to 30 First Nations and approximately 350 municipalities with broadband internet by using surplus fibre-optic cable put in place by Manitoba Hydro.

This will allowwork to get started on the network build, Central Services Minister Reg Helwer said Tuesday at a news conference in Grande Pointe.

"The pandemic has shown us that staying connected and having access to important and timely information is a necessity," Helwer said.

"As our way of life has changed during the course of the pandemic, access to virtual serviceslike education [and] work-based serviceshas become our new reality."

The system will likely be operational in about two years, said Bill Macdonald, executive vice-president of Xplornet, a New Brunswick-headquartered communications company.

Rural Municipality of Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewan said a few weeks ago, he was in a virtual meeting in Grande Pointe, just south of Winnipeg, with provincial officials when the internet connection dropped entirely.

"To be part of big meetings with cabinet ministers and wanting to see change and wanting to great things for your municipality ... and your meeting to drop like that, it's detrimental for government work, it's detrimental for businesses," he said.

"When we have fibre optics, we can make sure all that work is done."

In May, the provincial government announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the internet provider to expand and improveservice for unserved or under-served communities in Manitoba.

At that time, the goal was to provide the service to30 First Nationsand approximately 270 rural and northern communities.

But since signing the memorandum,the company hasdetermined an additional 80 communities will be included, bringing the total to 350,anXplornetspokesperson saidin an email on Tuesday.