Dawson Trail Dispatch
Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!
Drive-By Santa Visits for Many Communities
December 2021
Province Hands Xplornet a Monopoly to Hydro Fibre By Angelique Forest
As if he isn’t busy enough, Santa made a drive-by visit to the community of Lorette on December 4th. After Santa finished his rounds, the Lorette Family Fun Group topped off the night with fireworks. Photo Lorette Family Fun Group/Facebook
Xplornet announced on November 30 its plans to expand its wireless broadband in Manitoba to over 125,000 homes and businesses in the province, including close to 350 rural and 30 First Nation communities, as part of the newly inked Rural Broadband Expansion Agreement with the Government of Manitoba. “For everyone that has a business, everyone that has a home here, not just in Ritchot, but everywhere in the Province from the First Nations to the small municipalities around Manitoba to have an opportunity to work with the province, for them to collaborate with us to find the right partnership like Xplornet to bring opportunities such as fibre optics. It’s incredible,” said the Mayor of the RM of Ritchot, Chris Ewan. He thanked all parties involved, from the province to the New Brunswick-based internet provider for all contributions to make this possible for the many Manitobans affected. The agreement means Xplornet will gain control of the 3,200 km of dark fibre backbone from Manitoba Hydro. It is not known yet how the exclusivity to control these fibre connections will affect current internet service providers who used to deal with Manitoba Hydro Telecom for their fibre connection and their ability expand their services or attain competitive pricing.