High tech connection for Age in Place development

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) has awarded contracts to expand high-speed fibre internet connections at more than 50 business parks across Eastern Ontario.

A high-capacity, high-speed, fibre internet connection will serve the McFarland Lands, on Highway 49 – the site of the recently approved Age-In-Place development concept intended to promote the development of housing and care for seniors. The EOWC awarded Prince Edward County’s portion of the contract to Cogeco Cable and work is expected to be completed in 2014.

“The new infrastructure provides additional benefit to the future development of the site and capacity for high-tech healthcare and assisted living facilities,” said Mayor Peter Mertens. “Expanding high-capacity, high-speed internet fibre to key development areas will help our communities to attract and retain local businesses,” said Mertens. “It is a real boost for community and economic development and the Age-In-Place project.”

The business park project for all of Eastern Ontario is valued at about $8.9 million and is the latest phase of the EORN project, a $170 million initiative to expand rural broadband throughout the region. Created by the Wardens’ Caucus, the project is supported by federal, provincial, and municipal funding, and private sector investment.

EORN was established by the Wardens’ Caucus to manage expansion of the broadband network in Eastern Ontario. It includes a 5,500-km fibre optic backbone and more than a dozen local access networks that will increase internet speeds and services to 95 per cent of the households in the region by 2014.