Six Nations gets $11.4 million for high-speed internet
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.
The funding is part of a Canada-Ontario broadband partnership, which was formed in 2021 and supports “large-scale, fibre-based projects” that will help connect nearly 280,000 households provincewide, according to a Wednesday press release.
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 councillors at a Jan. 23 meeting that installation of fibre cables and conduit started in June 2023. Work on the project is expected to wrap up by the end of 2025.