Xplornet to bring high-speed Internet to thousands of Outaouais residents through fibre-to-the-home by September 2022

More than 15,300 homes in the Outaouais region will soon have access to fast, reliable and affordable high-speed Internet.

QUÉBEC – Xplornet Communications Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been selected as part of Operation High-Speed Canada Quebec to deploy high-speed fibre-optic Internet to over 15,300 homes and businesses in Outaouais by September 30, 2022.

“Xplornet is very proud to have the opportunity to contribute to the tremendous and historic efforts of the Canadian and Quebec governments to quickly connect all Quebecers to high speed,” said Allison Lenehan, President and CEO of the company. “Xplornet thanks its government partners for renewing their confidence in the company’s strong ability to deliver large-scale projects on short notice. As a pioneer in Canada in the deployment of world-class broadband services, Xplornet is excited to enable thousands of Quebec households to communicate with each other and with the world.”

As a pioneer in the deployment of world-class broadband services, Xplornet will extend more than 2,137 kilometres of fibre-optic cable to some 50 municipalities in Outaouais. Once completed, these installations will bring high-speed Internet services through fibre to the home for more than 15,300 homes and businesses in the region.

The announcement was made in the presence of the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry and MP for Pontiac, William Amos, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Seniors and MP for Argenteuil-La Petite-Nation, Stéphane Lauzon, the Quebec Minister for Families, Minister responsible for Outaouais region and MP for Papineau, Mathieu Lacombe, and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec, Jean-Claude D’Amours. Stéphane Lauzon, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Quebec for High-Speed Internet, Gilles Bélanger, the MP for Gatineau, Robert Bussière, and the Vice-President Quebec of Xplornet, Charles Beaudet.

“With Fibre to the Home, Xplornet will offer high-speed service plans to tens of thousands of Quebec families at speeds of up to one gigabit per second,” said Mr. Beaudet. “To faithfully respect the commitment the Quebec government has made to its population, Xplornet will proceed within the next few weeks with an inventory of the targeted territories to ensure that no home is left without service. ”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that it has never been more important to connect all Quebecers to high-speed Internet. That is why our government is investing to connect homes and businesses in Outaouais by the fall of 2022. With this historic announcement, and thanks to our good collaboration with the Quebec government, we are increasing the potential for economic growth and contributing to improving the quality of life of Quebecers living in the region. ”

Will Amos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry (Science) and MP for Pontiac

“This is great news for Outaouais and for rural Quebec as a whole. The pandemic has shown us how essential high-speed Internet access has become for our communities, not only to bring people together virtually, but also for work, study and commerce. The Government of Canada understands the urgency and vitality of connecting the regions of Quebec and Canada. We are proud to be part of this important project and will continue to invest and work in partnership with the Government of Quebec to ensure that every home and business has access to high-speed Internet. ”

Mathieu Lacombe, Minister of Family, Minister Responsible for Outaouais and MNA for Papineau

The announced investments will accelerate the deployment of reliable and efficient infrastructure for the MRCs of La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, Papineau, Pontiac and Collines-de-l’Outaouais, in the municipalities listed in the attached appendix.