GATINEAU, QC, June 19, 2025 /CNW/ – The CRTC is taking action to help bring high-speed fibre Internet to 18 rural communities in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
In 2019, the CRTC launched the Broadband Fund to help connect rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. To date, the fund has improved high-speed Internet and cellphone services in over 290 communities, connecting essential institutions such as schools, health care facilities, and community centres.
Through its Broadband Fund, the CRTC is committing over $17 million to Minto Communications Society, County of Forty Mile No. 8, Vianet Inc., MCSnet, and Missing Link Internet Inc., to build approximately 330 kilometres of new transport fibre infrastructure. These projects will improve access to reliable and high-quality Internet services.
Impacted communities provided letters of support emphasizing the benefits of these projects, including creating new opportunities for local businesses, and improving access to health care and educational services.
The CRTC continues to assess Broadband Fund applications and will make more funding announcements in the coming months.
Quote
“We are taking action to help ensure that Canadians have access to high-quality Internet services. The projects announced today will connect 18 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. This will have a significant impact by helping create new opportunities for local businesses and improve access to health care and education services.”
– Vicky Eatrides, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, CRTC
Quick facts
- The CRTC is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal that regulates the Canadian communications sector in the public interest. The CRTC holds public consultations on telecommunications and broadcasting matters and makes decisions based on the public record.
- To date, the CRTC’s Broadband Fund has supported projects that will connect over 49,000 households, improve cellphone service along over 630 kilometres of major roads, and build over 5,500 kilometres of fibre to communities.
- The CRTC is continuing to make improvements to the Broadband Fund as part of its review of the fund. In December 2024, the CRTC announced its first decision to improve the fund and help make it faster and easier to connect Canadians to high-speed Internet. The CRTC will issue more decisions as part of its review and, later this year, it will launch the Indigenous Stream of the Broadband Fund.
Related products
Associated links
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-146 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Missing Link Internet Inc.’s transport fibre project to Lochinvar, Alberta
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-147 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Missing Link Internet Inc.’s transport fibre project in Alhambra, Alberta
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-148 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Missing Link Internet Inc.’s transport fibre project from Morning Meadows to the Red Deer Lake area, Alberta
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-149 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Lemalu Holdings Ltd.’s (operating as MCSnet) transport fibre project in Rich Lake, Alberta
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-150 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Vianet Inc.’s transport fibre project in Carling, Ontario
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-151 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for the County of Forty Mile No. 8’s transport fibre project in southeastern Alberta
- Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-152 – Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Minto Communications Society’s transport fibre project in southern British Columbia
- Broadband Fund: Closing the Digital Divide in Canada
- Broadband Fund – Third call for applications (Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-325)
- Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-89 – Call for comments – Broadband Fund policy review
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SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
