Ontario Increasing Access to High-Speed Internet in Middlesex County
March 5, 2026
Project connects additional 3,340 homes, farms, and businesses to reliable high-speed internet.
NEWS
PARKHILL – The Ontario government has invested more than $49 million to bring reliable, high-speed internet access to an additional 3,340 homes, farms, and businesses in Middlesex County and surrounding communities.
“Our government is continuing to make major progress on filling critical service gaps, which will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of residents, businesses, and visitors across Southwestern Ontario,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. “Expanding reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury – it is essential to daily life in today’s digital world. That’s why we’re making historic investments to fund the critical infrastructure that will help build a more connected and competitive Ontario, today and for decades to come.”
Through it’s Accelerated High-Speed Internet Program (AHSIP), the government has partnered with North Frontenac Telephone Company (NFTC) to complete the Lot 50.1 project, deploying new fibre infrastructure to thousands of premises across the region, including:
- City of London
- Township of Adelaide-Metcalfe
- Municipality of Middlesex Centre
- Municipality of North Middlesex
- Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc
- Township of Lucan Biddulph
“In rural Ontario, connectivity means opportunity,” said Steve Pinsonneault, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. “Expanding broadband access strengthens our local economy, ensuring families, farmers, and businesses across our community can stay connected and competitive.”
This milestone marks the completion of another key project under Ontario’s plan to expand critical infrastructure, ensuring people can live, work, and farm where they want. Through AHSIP, Ontario has committed $1.92 billion across 80 projects to expand high-speed internet access to approximately 212,000 premises.
“With the completion of this fibre-optic expansion, NFTC reaffirms its commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural Ontario”, said Grant Roughley, Vice President, NFTC. “In partnership with the Province of Ontario, we are delivering world-class, symmetrical speeds exceeding 1 Gigabit, ensuring residents and businesses have the essential bandwidth to thrive in a modern economy. For over 65 years, NFTC has been dedicated to investing in and serving our rural communities; this milestone marks an exciting new chapter in our history of providing reliable, future-proof infrastructure to the people we call neighbours.”
QUICK FACTS
- The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion to bring high-speed internet access to every corner of the province.
- Ontario launched a new interactive online map that shows where provincially funded high-speed internet projects are planned, currently under way, or have been recently completed
in communities across the province. Ontarians can visit Ontario.ca/highspeedinternet and search by address, community or municipality to find out more about provincially funded high-speed internet projects and where high-speed internet service is currently available.
QUOTES
“Reliable, high-speed internet is an essential service that supports economic growth, education, and everyday life in our community. This significant investment in broadband infrastructure will help ensure that residents and businesses in Middlesex Centre can stay connected, competitive, and positioned for long-term success.”
– Aina DeViet, Mayor of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre
“The investments announced today, alongside other rural broadband projects already underway, help us unlock our potential as rural communities. When we have fast, reliable internet, we can compete, innovate, and grow. Projects like this show what’s possible when we come together across industries and levels of government.”
– Warden Susane Clarke, Township of Adelaide Metcalfe
“This initiative will deliver a meaningful benefit to businesses and residents across both rural and urban communities by lowering costs and enhancing service levels.”
– Mayor Brian Ropp, Municipality of North Middlesex
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Making high-speed internet faster and more accessible in Ontario
Ontario connects: making high-speed internet accessible in every community
MEDIA CONTACTS
Michelle Dwyer
michelle.dwyer@pc.ola.org