This Xplore Dealer is Keeping Kawartha Lakes Safe and Connected to the Internet

Ingo relocated from the Netherlands to Ontario 16 years ago and is deeply connected to his Kawartha Lakes community.

A Firefighter at Heart

“I’m a volunteer firefighter so from time to time I have to drop what I’m doing and go help my community that way,” he said.

It’s been five years since he started firefighting, a calling that came through his work with Xplore.

“I met a customer doing an install who was a firefighter. I wanted to be a firefighter but I found a love in telecom, so I never pursued it. The customer became a really good friend of mine. I signed up and within a year had my certification,” he said.

He loves helping people.

“It can range from small stuff to big fires but no matter what it is, helping out is a good feeling,” he said.

Building a Business from the Ground Up

Ingo has spent most of his time since relocating to Canada honing his career in telecommunications. He worked for several large Internet companies and contractors before starting his own business to become an Authorized Xplore Dealer.

He ran the dealership out of his home until they grew and opened their storefront in Lindsay, Ontario where they’ve been for 3 years.

In the beginning, Ingo did it all, but over the years he’s hired a team that he trusts to maintain his commitment to excellent customer service. He is proud to be supporting his community and employing local people.

“I maintain the managers, train the new technicians coming in. I take pride in making sure the company reflects my values,” he explained.

Living the Rural Life

His family has since relocated to Lindsay to be close to the business, but for many years they lived on a big piece of land in Woodville, Ontario.

“Very rural. We found the right piece of property, a few acres and a fixer upper. I just wanted some property where the kids had the freedom to play,” he said.

His oldest is now 15 and his youngest is almost 2.

“You know rural firsthand living in Woodville,” he said.

He loves the nature, quiet and his family’s hobbies, like ATVing, are geared toward country living.

Ingo is grateful that his new home in Lindsay backs onto a ravine and that from his back window he still sees farmland and forest.

Going the Extra Mile for Connectivity

With that kind of intimate experience with rural life, Ingo understands the importance of Internet and sends his installers wherever it’s needed, a full 100 km radius from their store through central, south, west and northern Ontario.

They also make sure to give back.

“We partner with local businesses to collect three or four skids full of food for Kawartha Food Source every year and we are a gold sponsor for the Jolly Run,” he said.

You will also find them at the Cottage Life show, providing information about fast Internet in rural Canada. Ingo says that people have been really excited about Xplore’s new Wireless Home Internet service with speeds up to 100 Mbps.

“I’ve had people come to the show and say “wow, thank you,” “it’s lifesaving” or things like, “I'd lose my job if I didn't have it.”

Proud of Xplore’s Roots and Progress

Ingo is proud of Xplore’s humble roots and progress.

“Xplore was always there trying to get rural people connected. Xplore should be very proud. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve been here since day one trying to serve rural people,” he said.

He remembers getting connected to Xplore Internet when he first got his place in Woodville.

“My Woodville house couldn’t get anything but Xplore, and that’s the case to this day. We were gaming. We had zero issues. Three kids at the time, two gamers, and I would play with the kids. Overall, I thought it was great and we eventually ran the business on that same network,” he said.

DOT Communications was running two office staff members from their kitchen table on that same connection.

With speeds up to 100 Mbps and truly unlimited data, there’s never been a better time to switch to Xplore. Ingo and the team at DOT Communications are ready to help!