Province expands high-speed internet to 759 rural communities

The Alberta government says another 759 rural and remote communities across the province will soon gain access to high-speed internet, bringing the province closer to its goal of universal broadband connectivity.

The latest phase of funding under the Universal Broadband Fund will connect more than 83,000 additional homes, improving internet access in communities that have historically faced service gaps due to distance, terrain and limited infrastructure.

“Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury — it’s an essential service,” said Alberta Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish. “This latest batch of projects brings Alberta to more than 95 per cent of our universal connectivity goal, and we will continue pushing until every Albertan is connected.”

While high-speed internet has long been concentrated in Alberta’s urban centres, the province says the new projects are focused on addressing long-standing disparities in rural and Indigenous communities.

Since the launch of Alberta’s Broadband Strategy, the provincial and federal governments have jointly invested more than $622 million in 81 projects, connecting over 135,000 homes. Fourteen projects have been completed, 46 are currently under construction, and another 24 remain in the planning phase.

Federal Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger said the investments will have far-reaching impacts beyond connectivity.

“Every corner of Alberta should have access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet,” Belanger said. “These projects create jobs, improve access to health care and online learning, and help people stay connected to their communities and loved ones.”

The 27 newly announced projects involve partnerships with service providers and local municipalities, as well as the Woodland Cree First Nation, which is building a fibre-to-the-home network for Cadotte Lake.

Alberta’s Broadband Strategy aims to close the digital divide by expanding internet access in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The province says improved connectivity supports education, remote work, online government services and economic growth.

The total cost of the 27 projects is $373.6 million, with $112.4 million provided by the Alberta government, $136.9 million from the federal government and $124.2 million from service provider partners. Construction associated with the broadband strategy is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs across Alberta.

When the strategy was launched, approximately 489,000 Albertans — representing about 201,000 households — lacked access to the federal target speeds of 50 megabits per second download and 10 megabits per second upload. Officials estimate that achieving universal high-speed access province-wide will require about $1 billion in total investment, with $780 million already secured through joint provincial and federal funding.