High-speed fibre optic internet is one step closer to becoming a reality for residents of Ritchot.
The municipality’s council members are excited about the ongoing plans to bring fibre optic internet to Ritchot, an initiative which was first announced a year and a half ago and has been steadily building momentum ever since.
In 2018, Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen joined a collective of 13 reeves and mayors from the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, believing that such a collaboration could increase networking and cost-sharing capabilities for everyone.
The RM is preparing to loan $250,000 to JohnQ Public Inc. for the installation of a fibre optic network in their Strategic Fibre Corridor, which includes Ritchot.
JohnQ has been cultivating a joint effort to install a fibre optic network from Stonewall, to Macdonald, Headingley, Portage La Prairie, Rockwood, and Ritchot.
The agreement will see the municipality loan the money for completing the infrastructure, but residents who desire the service will pay for their own individual installation and monthly fees.
Mayor Ewen says he has also been conducting ongoing communication with JohnQ as to the particulars of their coverage and has confirmed that they plan to expand their route to include the Howden area, residents of which have chronically suffered from poor internet access.
“If we approve this, I had made a decision with the JohnQ group to go to Howden,” says Ewen. “With a bit of a delay in the summer months, we look to be lighting up internet in Howden come October. [JohnQ] will be looking to do community barbecues, obviously with practicing social distancing. They will be door-knocking come September to see who wants this quality internet.”
At the meeting, council unanimously passed the second and third reading of a bylaw to loan the $250,000.
“Creating a regional fibre network to ensure residents across the region have access to reliable and affordable internet is a must,” said Brad Erb, Reeve of the RM of Macdonald, in December 2018. “Many of us… heard this loud and clear from our residents and businesses, that one of their priorities is access to [high]-speed internet that creates opportunities. In the metro region, internet service is not reliable. We have speeds that are far below those of the standards set out by the CRTC and those are the standards that we’re trying to achieve.”