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Connect to Innovate | Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED):

March 31, 2023

Value

Varies.

Description

Connect to Innovate funds projects that bring improved Internet speeds to rural and remote communities in Canada. The program has committed $585 million to improve connectivity in over 975 rural and remote communities, including 190 Indigenous communities, by 2023.

This program primarily supports new “backbone” infrastructure to connect institutions like schools and hospitals. A portion of the funding will also provide upgrades and “last-mile” infrastructure to households and businesses.

Eligible Applicants

The program was flexible in terms of who could apply—essentially any entity other than individuals or other federal entities (including Crown corporations) were able to submit an application

The applicant had to identify who would build, own and operate the network, as well as who would manage the project. If the entity making an application to the program did not itself have a track record in operating Internet infrastructure, it would be asked to demonstrate in its application that appropriate resources with experience deploying and operating Internet infrastructure were part of the project team/contracted services.

Eligible Expenses

The program supported projects that were expected to be substantially completed by March 31, 2023. Five different backbone and last-mile project types were eligible, and a variety of possible combinations, including a hybrid of both backbone and last-mile infrastructure projects.At least one of the following categories described below of backbone and last-mile infrastructure projects were required:

  • New backbone: Program funding is primarily directed to communities identified by Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada as lacking a backbone connection of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps).
  • Backbone upgrade: Communities which have at least a 1 Gbps backbone connection were considered eligible for upgrades if the applicant could clearly demonstrate a capacity constraint.
  • Network resiliency: Network resiliency projects were projects where a new fibre backbone route is deployed to provide an alternate data path, increasing network reliability and resiliency for all users.
  • New last-mile: Projects proposing to connect households or businesses that lack service at speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload were eligible in completely underserved areas.
  • Partially served last-mile: Areas were considered partially or completely served at speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. Projects proposing to connect households or businesses that remained underserved in these areas were eligible if the applicant could clearly demonstrate these households or businesses did not have access to speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.

Deadline Date

Contact

Contact Name: ISED Citizen Services Centre

Phone Number: 1-800-328-6189

Website: https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/connect-to-innovate/en

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