​Canada's leading rural fixed-wireless broadband provider Xplornet Communications has announced an initiative to deploy '5G-ready' 100Mbps services to an additional 80,000 rural homes and businesses in Eastern Ontario, supported by rollout of over 600km of fibre infrastructure. Assisted by a contribution of up to CAD16 million (USD12.2 million) from the Government of Canada via the Connect to Innovate programme, the areas covered are adjacent to Xplornet's 'hybrid fibre wireless' network upgrades already underway to connect 35,000 rural homes and business in the counties of Hastings and Lennox & Addington. Subscribers will receive 'affordable' internet packages with unlimited monthly data.

The latest project – expected to be completed in 2022 – covers rural residents in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, Lanark County, Durham Region and Northumberland County.