THUNDER BAY — Residents of dozens of rural communities from just north of Sault Ste. Marie to Balmertown are getting access to Tbaytel high-speed internet service.
Tbaytel announced Tuesday that it has wrapped up work on year two of its three-year rollout of a project to upgrade its Regional Fixed Wireless Internet network.
The system connects a home or business using radio signals rather than a traditional wired connection.
By installing an antenna on a building, a line-of-sight connection is made to a nearby tower.
The system provides eligible customers with internet speeds up to 20 Mbps.
"Tbaytel's vast serving territory includes areas of low population density and difficult terrain, which can make it challenging to service our rural customers with a quality internet connection," CEO Dan Topatigh said in a statement.
"By making strategic investments in Regional Fixed Wireless Internet and having senior levels of government make funding available for this necessary wireless infrastructure, Tbaytel is confident that we can continue to make upgrades across our region," Topatigh added.
The $3.5 million dollar expansion is partially funded by a $1.5 million investment from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
The 48 upgraded areas for the fixed wireless internet system are:
WEST OF THUNDER BAY
Balmertown, Barwick, Bergland, Burditt, Burriss, Clearwater Bay, Couchiching FN, Crozier, Dearlock, Emo, Gagne Lake, Island Lake (Kenora), Mine Centre, Morson, Nickel Lake, Perch Lake, Perrault Falls, Pinewood, Quetico
THUNDER BAY AREA
Cloud Bay, Cloud Lake, Fort William First Nation, Mink Mountain, Neebing, O'Connor Twp., Pigeon River, Sistonen's Corner, Whitefish Lake
EAST OF THUNDER BAY
Batchawana Bay, Dorion, Geraldton, Goulais River, Heyden, Jellicoe, Longlac, Marathon, Margo Lake, Nipigon/Red Rock, Orient Bay, Pays Plat, Pic Mobert, Terrace Bay
Pricing plans are available on the Tbaytel website.
