Xplornet boosts internet speeds in eastern Ontario with ‘5G-ready’ network

Canadian rural fixed-wireless broadband market leader Xplornet has announced a CAD36 million (USD28 million) project to boost internet speeds in eastern Ontario, helped by a CAD10.8 million grant from the federal government’s Connect To Innovate programme. Xplornet says it will dramatically increase internet capacity and speed to over 35,000 rural homes and businesses in the counties of Northumberland, Hastings and Lennox & Addington, by deploying 450km of fibre and establishing a ‘5G-ready’ hybrid fibre-wireless network spanning 21 communities, with small cells and the latest wireless technology using its licensed 3500MHz spectrum. Downlinks of up to 100Mbps are promised via the project which is slated for completion by 2020.