“FlexNetworks is excited to play a part in the Connect to Innovate program and help transform the lives of thousands of Canadians and businesses. Partnering with the Government of Canada will enable us to build a fibre-optic network that will give Saskatchewan families and businesses access to high-speed services, which are essential to communicating and being competitive.”
Jacques Taillefer, Executive Vice President, FlexNetworks
Now that the dust has settled a bit since our big announcement a few weeks ago, I thought it might be a good time to provide some more insight into the project. In case you missed it, we are partnering with the federal government through the Connect to Innovate program to build a 530 kilometre fibre optic link between Regina and Saskatoon, an infrastructure investment of almost $15 million.
The official announcement named 21 underserved communities that will directly benefit from the construction of this high-speed backbone. The rural communities mentioned were: Amazon, Arlington Beach, Bradwell, Colesdale Park, Etters Beach, Glen Harbour, Island View, Kannata Valley, Mohr’s Beach, North Colesdale Park, Pelican Pointe, Renown, Shields, Simpson, Sorenson’s Beach, Spring Bay, Thode, Uhl’s Bay, Venn, Waterpark Estates and Zelma.
What was implied, however, but not specifically mentioned was the dozen or so other communities that will benefit because of their proximity to our plabnned fibre backbone; places like, Saskatchewan Beach, Valeport, Craven, Lumsden, Silton, Bulyea, Strasbourg, Duval, Govan, Nokomis, Watrous, Young, Allan, Clavet, along with the multiple Farms, Mines and other rural commercial operations that currently struggle to get usable and affordable connectivity along this corridor.
The Canadian Government recognizes the need for all Canadians to have access to high-speed connectivity – https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/139.nsf/eng/h_00002.html – and has committed to supporting their partners (like FlexNetworks) with the necessary funding to make this happen. We are proud of the role we are playing in rural Saskatchewan, both with this project and our current fibre build from Saskatoon to Prince Albert – https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2018/06/rural-communities-in-saskatchewan-will-benefit-from-faster-internet.html. Our goal is to enable access to the Information Economy in Saskatchewan for all.
If you want to know more about this project please contact sales@flexnetworks.ca.
