Backgrounder: Government of Canada to bring high-speed Internet access to Manitoba communities

Backgrounder

On November 15, 2024, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, announced over $38 million in federal funding to bring high-speed Internet access to communities in Manitoba.

Here is an overview of Manitoba's connectivity status:

  • As of November 2024, 85.4% of Manitoba households are connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 megabits per second [Mbps] download /10 Mbps upload).
  • In 2017, 69.8% of Manitoba households were connected to high-speed Internet (at least 50 Mbps download /10 Mbps upload).
  • In 2026, 95.1% of Manitoba households are 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 funded by the Government of Canada are as follows:

Internet service provider UBF funding Number of households to be served Communities to benefit Technology Estimated completion date
UBF-02195 (NHCN Broadband Inc.) $12,329,302 1,623 (1,376 of which are Indigenous) Norway House Cree Nation, Fort Island, Jack River, Mission Island, Norway House (Fort Island), West Island Fibre and fixed wireless April 2026
UBF-04843 (Pimicikamak Communication Corp.) $14,557,099 1,236 (1,068 of which are Indigenous) Cross Lake Fibre December 2025
UBF-05180 (Sapotaweyak Cree Nation) $3,168,126 289 (265 of which are Indigenous) Shoal River 65A, Pelican Rapids, Shoal River 65B, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, Pelican Rapids Access Road Phase 1 Fibre and fixed wireless December 2024
UBF-03773 (Southeast Resource Development Council Corp.) $8,031,965 463 (426 of which are Indigenous) Bloodvein, Berens River Fibre and fixed wireless December 2026

Related Product

News Release: Expanding high-speed Internet access for rural and Indigenous communities in Manitoba

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