Today, the CRTC announced that ten projects will receive up to $20.5 million in funding from the Broadband Fund.

“Since the first funding announcement from the Broadband Fund in 2020, more communities, households, and roads have access to better and faster Internet and voice services. These services are an important part of Canada’s public safety infrastructure. We are proud that our Broadband Fund is assisting in connecting more people and making them feel safer on the road. The new projects announced today will benefit communities and areas where there is a great need for mobile wireless and broadband Internet access services.”

Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO, CRTC

• The universal service objective for mobile wireless service is the use of the latest generally deployed mobile wireless technology (currently long-term evolution [LTE]) in Canadian homes and businesses and on major transportation roads. The target for fixed Internet access service is that all Canadians households have access to download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of at least 10 Mbps, with an unlimited data option.

• In 2020, 99.5% of Canadians and 88.5% of major roads and highways had access to mobile wireless services using the latest generally deployed technology (currently LTE service).

• In 2020, 50/10 Mbps service with unlimited data options, which corresponds to the level of the CRTC’s universal service objective regarding fixed broadband Internet access service, was available to 89.7% of Canadian households (compared to 87.4% in 2019), while 54.4% of rural Canadians had access to the same service.

• In 2020, only 39.1% of First Nations reserves had access to 50/10 Mbps service with unlimited data. This service was not accessible to First Nations reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon.

• In November 2019, the CRTC issued its second call for applications for projects to improve broadband Internet access services and mobile wireless services across Canada. The second call generated 586 valid applications requesting more than $1.5 billion in total funding.

• Applications were assessed based on many factors, including their technical merit, financial viability, level of community consultation, and the amount of funding committed from other sources – both public and private.

• The CRTC Broadband Fund will provide up to $750 million over the first five years to support projects that improve broadband Internet access services and mobile wireless services in underserved areas in Canada. It is designed to complement private-sector investments and public-sector initiatives.

• Given the current state of telecommunications infrastructure in Canada, the CRTC expects fixed broadband Internet access service at the universal service objective level to be available in 100% of Canadian homes and businesses by 2030 or sooner.

Associated links

• Backgrounder: Projects selected in August 2022
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-204 – Broadband Fund – Second call for applications – Introductory decision regarding the August 2022 round of project funding approvals
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-205 - Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Sichuun Inc., Naskapi Imuun Inc., and Redline Communications Inc.’s mobile project in northeastern Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-206 - Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for TELUS Communications Inc.’s mobile and combination mobile/access/transport projects in Quebec
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-211 - Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Bell Canada’s and Bell Mobility Inc.’s access and mobile projects in Manitoba and Quebec
• Telecom Decision CRTC 2022-216 - Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for Sogetel Mobilité inc.’s mobile project in southern Quebec (Route 204)
• Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-372 Broadband Fund – Second call for applications
• Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2018-377 Development of the Commission’s broadband funding regime
• Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-496 Modern telecommunications services – The path forward for Canada’s digital economy
• Broadband Fund: Projects selected for funding
• Broadband Fund: Closing the digital divide in Canada

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