High speed internet network installations underway in Baker Settlement

June 28, 2019 - BRIDGEWATER, NOVA SCOTIA – High speed internet installations, powered by Eastlink fibre, are well underway in the Baker Settlement area as part of the Baker Settlement/Hemford/Hemford Forest internet expansion project.

Built to the plan that was outlined and approved by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, this project is funded by a partnership between the Government of Canada’s Connect to Innovate program, the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust, the Municipality and Eastlink.

“We are so pleased to be part of this project, which will bring our core, fibre-based services to more residents in the Municipality,” says Deborah Shaffner, Eastlink CEO.

Eastlink’s core services include high speed internet and WiFi with speeds up to 1 GB, TV (including Eastlink’s exclusive TV Channel Exchange) and home phone with the option to bundle services.

“Access to high-speed Internet is of critical importance to the Municipality, and a key priority for our Council,” says Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “This investment will make an important and significant contribution towards economic development and quality of life in these communities.” 

“Broadband Internet service is key for the prosperity of rural Canadian communities. This project will allow residents in Baker Settlement to be better connected to friends, family and businesses, as well as have better access to online services and tools. By providing better broadband connections, we are increasing the potential for economic growth and diversification and enhancing the quality of life in small and rural communities,” says the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development.

 “Connecting more rural Nova Scotians to reliable, high-speed Internet is an ongoing priority for the province,” said Mark Furey, MLA for Lunenburg West and Minister of Justice.  “Last year we committed $193 million into the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust and placed responsibility for the implementation and management of rural Internet with Develop Nova Scotia. Now we are beginning to see results in Baker Settlement, with many more communities to come across Nova Scotia.”

The Municipality recognizes that there remain underserved areas in the Municipality that are not part of this project. As such, the Municipality continues to work on solutions to further expand service to more of these areas, which may possibly benefit from its TNC project or projects that may qualify for funding from the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust, through Develop Nova Scotia.

Learn more at www.modl.ca/Internet and for more information about Develop Nova Scotia’s Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative, visit https://developns.ca/projects/rural-internet/

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Media contact:

Sarah Kucharski
Communications Officer
(902) 541-1328