Cobourg – ON – July 6, 2026 – The Northumberland Broadband Project has reached a major milestone. Construction of the county-wide broadband network recently surpassed 1 million metres of network conduit installed, with the project expanding from construction to connection.
This milestone marks a significant step forward as Northumberland County and its private sector partner Axle Telecom – a subsidiary of Windsor Private Capital – lead one of the most ambitious rural broadband infrastructure projects in Ontario. Once finished in late 2026, over 11,000 underserved and unserved households and businesses – including locations across rural Northumberland and Alderville First Nation – will have access to reliable high-speed internet service. This is thanks to significant funding from the federal and provincial governments, including $18.4 million from the Government of Canada through the Universal Broadband Fund and $45.8 million from the Government of Ontario.
With substantial underground infrastructure now in place and just over 600 kilometres of fibre optic cable pulled through the conduit, construction activity is expanding to include property-level connections and service activation. In many areas, residents are already beginning to experience improved connectivity as the network comes online.
As construction advances, Axle Telecom will continue working directly with property owners to arrange voluntary, no-cost fibre connections from roadside infrastructure to homes, farms, and businesses. Once connected, residents will have the option to subscribe to high-speed internet services, supporting remote work, online learning, healthcare access, agriculture, digital business operations, and more.
The Northumberland Broadband Project was launched to address approximately one-third of households in the community who are unserved or underserved by high-speed internet. For households not reached as part of this initiative, the County continues to investigate all available funding opportunities and partnership options to expand coverage further and close these gaps. The goal is to ensure rural geography is no longer a barrier to participation in the digital economy; the County does not consider its work finished until every resident and business can access the high-speed internet they need.
Northumberland County continues to advance digital infrastructure and engagement initiatives, including participation in the Intelligent Community Forum, reinforcing connectivity as a foundation for resilient and future-ready communities. Beyond connectivity, this broadband network is expected to strengthen community wellbeing, support local economic development, and improve access to services across health care, education, agriculture, and small business sectors.
Quotes
“Reliable high-speed internet has made a real difference with how we deliver care. We can now communicate more effectively with clients, securely send and receive x-rays and lab reports, and access critical information without delays or interruptions. In an emergency veterinary setting, every minute matters. Improved connectivity helps our team work more effectively, use reliable online phone calls, and ensure we can provide the highest level of care possible to the animals and families who depend on us.”
- Dylan Hatherly, Administrative Manager, Port Hope Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Services
“Today’s milestone builds on our progress to bring reliable high-speed internet to every community across Ontario, including Indigenous communities, through the largest investment of its kind in Canadian history. Once completed, this project will make a real difference for more than 11,000 families and workers in Northumberland County, helping them work, learn, and access services online. I want to congratulate and thank local crews for their dedication in making this project a reality.”
- The Honourable Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries (Ontario)
“High-speed Internet isn’t a luxury; it’s essential and foundational infrastructure. For rural areas, having a reliable connection levels the playing field, and can make all the difference in being able to access vital virtual health care, work online, access to education or just keep in touch with loved ones. That’s why the Government of Canada is committed to providing access to high-speed Internet to 100% of Canadian households by 2030. This project advances that goal, and ensures that underserved communities across Ontario can get access to the reliable and affordable high-speed Internet they need to fully participate in today’s economy.”
- The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development
“Reliable high-speed internet is essential infrastructure for our community’s future. Improved connectivity means better access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and communication for Alderville First Nation residents. This project represents an important step toward ensuring our community members can fully participate in today’s digital world while strengthening connections for future generations.”
- Chief Taynar Simpson, Alderville First Nation
“Today’s milestone marks an exciting step forward in bringing reliable high-speed internet to residents and businesses across Northumberland. This progress is a result of the strong partnership between all levels of government and the dedicated work of Axle Telecom in improving connectivity to our rural communities.”
- David Piccini, MPP, Northumberland–Peterborough South
“The Northumberland Broadband Project has now firmly taken root, and we are seeing the results of years of planning and collaboration across all levels of government and the private sector. With over 1 million metres of conduit installed and fibre now extending across the county, we are moving rapidly from construction to connection. On behalf of County Council, I want to thank the provincial and federal governments for the investment that made this possible, our partners for sharing in our vision, and the crews working in challenging conditions to bring this vision to life.”
- Bob Crate, Warden, Northumberland County
“Projects of this magnitude require strong collaboration, long-term investment, and experienced delivery partners. We are incredibly proud of the work being done on the ground by our skilled trades and partners like LiUNA, whose expertise is essential to delivering this network safely and effectively. This project stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through the dedicated cooperation of government, Indigenous communities, and private sector partners.”
- Marco Di Carlantonio, Partner, Senior Vice President, Windsor Private Capital
“Hitting one million metres of conduit is a massive milestone for our construction teams, but for Axle, our true metric of success is the impact this network has at the kitchen table. Every single metre brings us closer to a Northumberland household that no longer has to struggle with buffering, dropped video calls, or unreliable service. We are incredibly proud to bring dedicated, future-proof fibre directly to our neighbours’ doors, ensuring our rural communities have the world-class connectivity they need to thrive, work, and stay connected.”
- Ray Lahoud, President & CEO, Axle Telecom
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