Fibre Connections Expanded in Cornwall Business Park
January 9, 2014Cornwall Ontario – In a boost to the region’s economic development, the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) has awarded contracts to expand high-speed fibre internet connections at more than 50 business parks and clusters across rural Eastern Ontario.
In Cornwall, fibre is being expanded in the Cornwall Business Park as well as in the Saunders Drive and Wallrich Avenue areas. There are six other locations in SD&G that are receiving expanded connections.
“These efforts to expand high-speed internet fibre to local business parks will help us attract and retain local business and support our economic growth,” said Cornwall Mayor Bob Kilger.
The project adds to the number of business parks and clusters that already have broadband service in the region.
The companies are building the new services off of their existing infrastructure, as well as off of the 5,500-kilometre, fibre-optic backbone that was built through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN). A range of speeds and services will be available to serve the needs of business customers in these locations.
In 2012, as part of the EORN project, a new 10 Gigabyte (GB) Point of Presence (otherwise known as a PoP) was installed in Cornwall. This investment increased by tenfold the capacity in Cornwall, improving network availability for consumers and businesses. In addition, approximately 60 kilometres of core fibre has been placed through the Cornwall and SDG area, making available last mile fibre builds and reducing costs and cycle time for customers looking for fibre based services.
The business park project, valued at about $8.9 million, is the latest phase of the EORN project, a $170 million initiative to expand rural broadband throughout the region. Created by the Easteron Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, the project is supported by federal, provincial, and municipal funding, and private sector investment. The City of Cornwall is contributing $258,580 to the EORN project as part of the United Counties of S. D. & G.’s commitment of $1,088,365.
“EORN is a key economic development tool for the region and we are pleased to extend the reach of the network to these important business hubs,” said EOWC Chair Rick Philips.
“Thanks to prudent financial management and project oversight, we are able to deliver this added value to business parks as part of the EORN initiative,” said EORN Chair David Burton. “We expect to complete construction of the business parks by 2014.”
Bell Aliant, Cogeco Cable Inc. and Utilities Kingston were awarded contracts to provide the new high-capacity, high-speed fibre internet connections.
EORN was established by the Wardens’ Caucus to manage expansion of the rural broadband network in Eastern Ontario. It includes a 5,500-km fibre optic backbone and more than a dozen local access networks that will increase internet speeds and services to 95 per cent of the households in the region by 2014.
About the Cornwall Business Park
The Cornwall Business Park is located in the eastern part of Cornwall, immediately adjacent to Highway 401. With more than 1,600 acres, the Business Park is home to some of Canada’s largest distribution centres, award-winning manufacturers and great transportation companies.
Fully serviced land in the Cornwall Business Park is currently available for sale at $30,000 per acre, making it some of the most affordable land in Ontario. The Cornwall Business Park is zoned to include a wide range of manufacturing and commercial uses.
Click on the following links more information on the Business Park and development opportunities in Cornwall:
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http://www.choosecornwall.ca/eng/news/462/57/Cornwall-Gains-Capacity-in-Fibre-Optic-Network/