Cottagers and residents around Lake Temagami will soon see improved internet service.
Internet Service Provider, Leepfrog Telecom, will use CENGN program funding to utilize three existing towers and build one new 200’ self-supported tower. These towers will allow Leepfrog to provide multiple fixed wireless access technologies, including 2.4GHz WIFI, 5GHz WIFI, and 700 MHz TVWS.
The CENGN Northern Ontario Residential Broadband Program funds qualified projects with the potential for the greatest economic benefits and contribution toward northern Ontario residential broadband improvements.
The broadband internet access services will support up to 200 Mbps down/20 Mbps up to residents of Lake Temagami, including the Temagami First Nation on Bear Island. The new tower will also significantly improve service to other under-served residents with homes scattered along the shorelines of Lake Temagami according to a news release.
This project will see multi-tower placement on both sides of the lake to ensure wider coverage for residents and superior signal strength for higher-speed internet access.
A new 200’ tower will extend service throughout the north, south and east arms of Lake Temagami, including the Temagami First Nation on Bear Island.
The service rollout is starting this spring with full service rolling out in the fall of 2021.
Temagami mayor Dan Omara says the municipality received the news it got selected as one of CENGN projects back in December and has been hard at work since then to get all the details together.
"When our council first got elected improved broadband service was the number one priority," he told BayToday.
The first step was a joint investment with the Temagami First Nation for a broadband assessment completed by Amedeo Bernardi.
"Our administration team took advantage of this plan and applied under the CENGN Northern Ontario Residential Broadband Program and was successful. This program gives us a real opportunity to advance a local broadband system specially designed for our area."
The community will have enhanced broadband service levels that meet today and future needs at reasonable costs.
"A good part of the Town of Temagami and Lake Temagami will have access to this level of service and we have a commitment by Leepfrog to look at other areas once this system is in place," explained Mayor Omara.
"We did have concerns that getting approval under some of the other Broadband Programs was going to be a long shot. Many times, as Mayor I have noted the Temagami is unique and if we can find a way to introduce an enhanced broadband system meeting the current levels now called for and needed in our region, I am confident that this approach could be applied to many other areas throughout northern Ontario. Also, by having this system set up in Temagami it can act as a base that could be easily expanded along HWY 11 north."
He says Leepfrog is already looking to start making this happen.
"Be assured this investment is going to make a difference in our area and all the municipality had to do is work and cooperate with CENGN and Leepfrog as the cost of the project are split 50 per cent by Leepfrog and the other 50 per cent by CENGN. Pretty good deal I would say!"
“Access to reliable broadband internet is essential for all Ontarians, no matter where they live. Businesses, families, schools and hospitals in rural and Northern communities need fast connections just as much as in urban areas,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. “This innovative new project will mean secure and reliable internet connectivity for the Temagami Lake Area, bringing long-overdue cost-effective and high-speed solutions for those who live and work in the region.”
“This project identifies key innovation approaches to offering significantly improved broadband coverage across large lakes," said Jean-Charles Fahmy, President of CENGN. "By supporting and documenting Leepfrog Telecom’s implementation of broadband internet services at Lake Temagami, we will gain a strong blueprint to help address the business and technological challenges of similar communities in northern Ontario and across the province.”
“Every community in Northern Ontario deserves access to reliable, high-speed broadband,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development, and Mines. “This project will deliver high-speed broadband connectivity to Temagami and Temagami First Nation, develop new, streamlined services, and create new opportunities for the region.”
