Federal and provincial governments have announced another round of funding to bring broadband to over 8,800 rural Alberta households.
As part of Canada’s universal broadband strategy, Xplore Inc. will receive a combined $63 million in federal and provincial funding to connect homes to fibre internet with speeds of up to one gigabit per second and unlimited data.
“High-speed Internet is a necessity. Working with Xplore, your federal government is bringing high-speed Internet to every home in Alberta by 2030,” said federal Minister of Rural Economic Development.
“All communities, large and small, need a reliable connection to grow their potential in the digital world.”
The Xplore project will include homes in Athabasca, Cochrane, Cochrane Lake Subdivision, Okotoks, Sundre, and 65 other communities, according to Jonathan Gauthier, press secretary to Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation.
“This is another important milestone in our ongoing effort to deliver high-speed connections to more Canadians in rural communities,” said Geoff Lowe, Interim CEO of Xplore.
The company has previously completed rural internet projects in Prince Edward Island and Quebec, and is also currently working on fibre internet and wireless broadband projects in rural Ontario.
When Alberta launched its broadband strategy in 2022, the province reported that 67 per cent of rural Albertans and 80 per cent of Indigenous communities didn’t have access to high-speed internet at federal target speeds. The province has set the target of achieving complete connectivity for all Albertans by the end of the 2026/27 fiscal year, using either a fibre connection, fixed wireless access, or low earth orbit satellite technologies. Alberta’s government has budgeted $70 million for rural internet projects this year, and the broadband strategy will cost a total of $780 million, jointly funded by federal and provincial governments.
“Alberta’s government is committed to bridging the digital divide,” said Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation.
“Our investment in Alberta’s broadband strategy is delivering results for Albertans across the province, providing access to reliable, high-speed Internet. This infrastructure empowers rural communities, enhances economic opportunities, and improves the quality of life for thousands of Albertans.”