Eastlink to complete 100% broadband coverage of Nova Scotia this year

Cableco and mobile provider Eastlink has until the end of this year to provide broadband internet services to 100% of residential and business premises in Nova Scotia, the provincial government’s rural development minister Michel Samson said on Thursday. As reported by Metronews.ca, Eastlink’s contract with the government to implement the rural rollout expires this December, and while around 99% of the Atlantic Canadian province’s inhabitants already have high speed access, there remain approximately 1,000 unserved homes and businesses, mostly in relatively remote locations. Of the total CAD75 million (USD67.5 million) Nova Scotia rural broadband programme budget set in 2006, CAD41 million came from service providers, CAD20 million from the provincial authority and CAD14 million from federal state funds.