Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and Alberta invest over $112 million to bring high-speed Internet access to more than 22,500 households
Backgrounder
On March 5, 2024, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, together with the Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation, announced over $112 million in combined federal and provincial funding to bring high-speed Internet access to over 22,500 households in rural and remote communities across Alberta.
Here is an overview of Alberta's connectivity status:
- In 2022, 89.4% of Alberta was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 megabits per second [Mbps] download /10 Mbps upload)
- In 2023, 92.9% of Alberta was connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload)
- In 2024, 97.1% of Alberta is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload)
- In 2025, 97.6% of Alberta is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload)
- In 2026, 97.7% of Alberta is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload)
The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are funded by the Government of Canada are as follows:
| Internet service provider | Federal funding only | Number of households to be served | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBF-01763 (Advanced Interactive Canada Inc. aka Advintive) | $583,067 | 241 (all Indigenous) | Elizabeth Metis Settlement | Fixed wireless last mile and backbone | March 2024 |
| UBF-02380 (Advanced Interactive Canada Inc. aka Advintive) | $582,927 | 241 (all Indigenous) | Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement | Fixed wireless last mile and backbone | March 2024 |
The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are co-funded by the governments of Canada and Alberta are as follows:
| Internet service provider | Combined federal and provincial funding | Number of households to be served | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated Completion Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBF-07035 (ATG Arrow Technology Group Limited Partnership) | $3,500,977 | 221, of which 150 are Indigenous | Carcajou, Keg River, Paddle Prairie | Fibre last mile | March 2026 |
| UBF-07023 (ATG Arrow Technology Group Limited Partnership) | $9,564,408 | 614 (all Indigenous) | Wabasca No. 166 (Bigstone Cree Nation), Wabasca No. 166A (Bigstone Cree Nation) (50458), Wabasca No. 166B (Bigstone Cree Nation), Wabasca No. 166C (Bigstone Cree Nation), Wabasca No. 166D (Bigstone Cree Nation) | Fibre last mile | December 2025 |
| UBF-06941 (Bragg Communications Inc.) | $334,500 | 19 | Irricana | Fibre last mile | December 2025 |
| UBF-07157 (Canadian Fiber Optics Corp.) | $24,161,150 | 2,689, of which 291 are Indigenous | Arcadia (Sucker Creek), Bay Tree, Blueberry Mountain, Bonanza, Donnelly, Enilda, Falher, Faust, Girouxville, Gordondale, Guy, High Prairie, Jean Côté, Joussard, McLennan, Paddle Prairie, Spirit River, Wanham, Watino, Whitburn, Woking | Fibre last mile | March 2027 |
| UBF-00415 (Eastern Irrigation District) | $8,303,402 | 1,400 | Cassils, Gem, Millicent, Patricia, Rainier, Rolling Hills, Scandia, Tilley | Fixed wireless last mile | December 2025 |
| UBF-03101 (G.P.N. Wireless Networks Solutions) | $1,032,224 | 149 (all Indigenous) | Horse Lake First Nation | Fibre last mile | August 2024 |
| UBF-06990 (Iwantwireless.ca Ltd) | $8,130,114 | 4,020, of which 390 are Indigenous | Berwyn, Bezanson, Calais, Crooked Creek, DeBolt, Donnelly, Eaglesham, Falher, Girouxville, Grimshaw, Guy, Hilliard's Bay Estates, Jean Côté, Little Smokey, Manning, Marie-Reine, McLennan, Nampa, Peace River, Peoria, Reno, Rycroft, Spirit River, St. Isidore, Sturgeon Heights, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Sturgeon Lake No. 154A (Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation), Sturgeon Lake No. 154 (Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation), Sunset House, Tangent, Valleyview, Wanham, Watino | Fixed wireless last mile | March 2027 |
| UBF-06372 (Lemalu Holdings Ltd. aka MCSnet) | $8,136,200 | 7,622 of which 168 are Indigenous | Amesbury, Andrew, Ardrossan, Athabasca, Barrhead, Beauvallon, Bondiss, Breynat, Bruce, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, Cadogan, Caslan, Chauvin, Chipman, Clandonald, Derwent, Dewberry, Duvernay, Edgerton, Elk Point, Evesham, Fabyan, Fawcett, Flatbush, Fort Assiniboine, Frog Lake, Furness, Glendon, Grassland, Greenstreet, Hairy Hill, Hayter, Heinsburg, Hilliard, Hillmond, Hughenden, Hylo, Innisfree, Island Lake, Islay, Jarrow, Jarvie, Kehewin Cree Nation, Kikino, Kinsella, Lavoy, Lindbergh, Lone Rock, Macklin, Mannville, Marwayne, McLaughlin, Meanook, Mundare, Myrnam, Nakamun Park, Neerlandia, Northminster, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Paradise Valley, Perryvale, Ranfurly, Rich Lake, Rochester, Spedden, St. Michael, St. Paul, Tangleflags, Tofield, Tulliby Lake, Two Hills, Vegreville, Venice, Wandering River, Warwick, Whispering Hills, Willingdon | Fixed wireless last mile | June 2024 |
| UBF-06934 (Red Deer County) | $8,112,392 | 1,189 | Benalto, Blackfalds, Bowden, Central Park, Condor, Innisfail, Olds, Red Deer, Spruce Lane Acres, Sylvan Lake | Fixed wireless last mile | December 2024 |
| UBF-07133 (Siksika Nation) | $14,565,029 | 1,356, of which 1,199 are Indigenous | Cluny, Gleichen, Namaka, Shouldice, Siksika, Siksika No. 146 (Siksika Nation) | Fixed wireless and fibre last mile | July 2026 |
| UBF-03103 (Slave Lake Communications Ltd.) | $1,836,187 | 171 | Slave Lake | Fibre last mile | December 2026 |
| UBF-03570 (Yellowhead County) | $23,321,292 | 2,614 | Brûlé Mines, Entrance, Evansburg, Marlboro, McLeod Valley, Niton Junction, Obed, Pine Shadows, Wildwood | Fixed wireless and fibre | December 2026 |
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