WINNIPEG – The province wants to jump-start broadband availability in rural and northern communities.

The plan, announced by Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton, is to use a fibre-optic network that has already been built through Manitoba Hydro. It was created to communicate with hydro-electric facilities and transmit data.

“The CoVid-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of broadband connectivity and the need to ensure people across the province have access to critical information, such as distance learning programs or internet-based mental health services,” said Wharton. “We want to help close the telecommunication gap in our province to better connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities, improve safety and access to information and learning resources.”

A request for proposals is expected to be posted in late spring or early summer.