Ontario Bringing High-Speed Internet to Huron County

Ontario Bringing High-Speed Internet to Huron County

Funding will help connect more than 510 homes, farms and businesses to high-speed internet service

December 10, 2021

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs


EXETER – As part of the Ontario government’s plan to build Ontario and its commitment to connect every community to broadband internet by 2025, construction is underway to connect more than 510 homes, farms and businesses in Porter’s Hill, Sunshine, Thames Road, Lumley and Hurondale to reliable high-speed internet services starting in February 2023.

This $5 million initiative to build three new infrastructure networks in Huron County will help ensure that farms and businesses in these communities will have the ability to attract new customers, grow their business, create new jobs and stay competitive in an increasingly digital marketplace. Families in these communities will also be able to have confidence in knowing that connectivity will be available when they need it whether its to access services, renew their driver’s licence, shop online, do homework or work from home.

The expanded fibre-optic service is supported by the Governments of Canada and Ontario, each committing $1.2 million. The contracts to expand broadband services were awarded by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) Inc, a not-for-profit corporation, initiated by local municipalities to address connectivity in unserved and underserved areas of Southwestern Ontario.

“Our Government is committed to bringing high-speed internet to Canadian households and businesses, regardless of where they live or operate.” said Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Through this partnership with Ontario, we are connecting hundreds more Canadian households, farms, and businesses to communities and customers from around the globe.”

“As both the Minister responsible for rural affairs and the local MPP, I know first hand how important high-speed internet access is for families and businesses in our community and throughout rural Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and MPP for Huron – Bruce. “They need these services to do their work – whether it’s schoolwork or running a business. That’s why I’m proud that our government is getting shovels in the ground to build the critical infrastructure needed to build Ontario and support communities in Huron County.”

More than $255 million has been invested by the Governments of Canada and Ontario and the private sector, to bring high-speed internet to more than 58,000 households and businesses in Southwestern Ontario through SWIFT.

“SWIFT is proud to partner with the federal and provincial governments as we continue to expand broadband service throughout Southwestern Ontario,” said Gary McNamara, SWIFT Board Chair. “With the important infrastructure investments made in Huron County and with construction now underway within the municipalities of Central Huron, Morris-Turnberry and South Huron, many more residents and communities will soon have access to long-term sustainable fibre-optic connectivity.”


Quick Facts

  • The governments of Canada and Ontario are each contributing more than $63 million to SWIFT through the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – Small Communities Fund of the Investing in Canada plan.
  • The Ontario government is investing nearly $4 billion in broadband infrastructure to connect every region of the province with access to high-speed internet by the end of 2025. This proactive approach is the largest single investment in high-speed internet, in any province, by any government in Canadian history.

Related Topics

Rural and North

Information about the province’s Far North and rural communities. Get connected to business improvement organizations and learn more about funding and programs that support rural, northern and Indigenous communities. Learn more