The federal and provincial governments are contributing $11.4 million to help bring high-speed internet access to more than 2,600 households on Six Nations of the Grand River.
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The funding is part of a Canada-Ontario broadband partnership, which was formed in 2021 and supports “large-scale, fiber-based projects” that will help connect nearly 280,000 households provincewide, according to a Wednesday press release.
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Six Nations is the most populous First Nations reserve in Canada, with around 12,000 residents living in approximately 2,800 housing units — most in rural areas — according to the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation.
Only small pockets of Six Nations currently have high-speed connectivity, according to the province’s interactive online map.
Jeffery Thomas, president of First Nations Cable, told Six Nations councilors at a Jan. 23 meeting that installation of fiber cables and conduit started in June 2023. Work on the project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025.
Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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