Manitoba Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton announced on Friday, May 15, 2020, that the province will be issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for the use of a mostly unused fibre-optic network to expand broadband and cellular services to rural and northern communities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of broadband connectivity and the need to ensure people across the province have access to critical information, such as distance learning programs or internet-based mental health services,” said Wharton.
The fibre-optic network was built by Manitoba Hydro to communicate with northern hydro facilities and transmit data. The network has thousands of kilometres of fibre-optic cable and has mostly gone unused with no plans to use its capacity by hydro said the minister.
“By allowing qualified carriers and providers to tap into this fibre-optic capacity, we will make use of an existing resource rather than building new infrastructure,” said Wharton. “This network will allow providers to offer or improve service to the significant number of rural and remote communities in Manitoba that are largely underserved by high-speed, competitive and reliable telecommunications.”
Through the RFP the province is looking to partner with qualified telecommunications companies to improve and expand broadband services and improve cellular service in communities currently without cellular service.
This isn’t the first time the province has allowed the use of the Manitoba Hydro owned fibre-optic network. In January 2018 the province announced a joint federal-provincial $83.9 million plan to bring high-speed internet access to 112 rural and remote communities in Manitoba.
© News4.ca 2020
