Manitoba farmers are hoping a new deal might finally bring decent internet and cellphone coverage to most areas.
Keystone Agricultural Producers “welcomes the announcement that the government of Manitoba has signed a memorandum of understanding with Xplornet to connect more than 125,000 unserved or underserved Manitobans to reliable, high-speed internet,” said KAP president Bill Campbell.
“This comes at a time when Manitobans are increasingly reliant on cellular and internet networks due to COVID-19.”
The Manitoba government signed a non-binding agreement with Xplornet Communications, a company well known in rural Saskatchewan and other sparsely populated areas, to provide digital services to farms, rural communities and First Nations.
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The plan will piggyback on fibreoptic cable that already exists in Manitoba Hydro’s infrastructure, which covers much of the province.
“Most of it has never been used,” said Central Services Minister Reg Helwer in a news conference announcing the deal.
“It was paid for by Manitobans, but it’s sitting unused with no immediate plans for use.”
The fibreoptic network was installed so that remote Manitoba Hydro locations could communicate.
Helwer said the network should allow Xplornet to reach 97 percent of those currently unserved and underserved, including 270 rural and northern communities and 30 First Nations.
It will also provide cellphone access to 350 communities, including villages and Hutterite colonies.
“Xplornet looks forward to collaborating with the government of Manitoba and accelerating our facilities-based network investment plans to deliver improved speeds and unlimited data plans at affordable prices to rural Manitoban homes and businesses,” said Allison Lenehan, president and chief executive officer of Xplornet.
There are few details of the agreement or how certain it is. The Manitoba government, Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Hydro Telecom are still negotiating the Xplornet deal.
