Independent Telecommunications Providers Association Executive Director Jonathon Holmes. Photo by Bob Montgomery.Independent Telecommunications Providers Association Executive Director Jonathon Holmes. Photo by Bob Montgomery.
Midwestern

Telecom Providers Say SWIFT Is Not Good Enough

Huron County councillors remain reluctant to put money into the proposed SWIFT project to bring broadband service to rural residents in Southwestern Ontario.

The Executive Director of the Independent Telecommunications Providers Association told Huron County councillors this week the broadband service offered by the Western Wardens through their SWIFT project will not give them the service they're looking for.

"What's missing in the SWIFT proposal is the last mile," Jonathan Holmes told CKNX News after addressing council, "And that's really the key to getting folks out in rural territories connected to the internet and being able to use things like Netflix and e-government services and things like that."

Holmes says it doesn't make much sense for Huron County to put money into a project that will only give service they already have.

Holmes says SWIFT claims that only five per cent of Southwestern Ontario residents are getting service from local service providers but says that number is dramatically higher in Huron County.

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