98 per cent of Canadians to be connected by 2026
With the coronavirus pandemic leading to more Canadians spending time online, the government has formally launched its $1.75 billion universal broadband fund, reports CBC. The program means that high-speed internet will be available to 98 percent of homes by 2026, with the remainder connected by 2030. ‘We were ready to go in March with the new Universal Broadband Fund and then the pandemic hit,’ Rural Economic Development Minister Maryam Monsef told reporters. The government has also reached agreement with Telesat for satellite capacity to improve broadband service in remote areas. Campaigners hope that the government ‘will look at need’ when deciding on priorities with communities suffering ‘slow, sluggish connectivity’ getting upgrades first.
Read more here.