More communities across Northern Ontario are getting closer to fibre connectivity.
During PomeGran’s latest Northern Ontario Gigabit Fibre Project webinar on September 18, the project team shared new construction milestones, explained what has to happen before a home can be connected, and provided updates on the work underway across communities throughout the region. You can find the full PomeGran news story here.
NIVO also shared more about how we’re showing up locally, what fibre connectivity can mean for families and businesses, and what customers can expect as more areas become ready for service.
Here are some of the highlights.
What Has to Happen Before Fibre Reaches Your Home?
Building a fibre network involves much more than installing cable along a road.
Before construction can move forward, the project team needs to complete network design and secure the necessary approvals and permits from organizations such as municipalities, local utilities, transportation authorities and railways.
These approvals help ensure construction is safe, compliant and coordinated with existing community infrastructure.
Once the required approvals are in place, the next stages can include hydro make-ready work, which prepares utility poles for fibre installation, followed by fibre construction, splicing and network testing.
Each stage depends on the one before it. That means seeing fibre installed or coiled on a pole does not necessarily mean a home is immediately ready for service. In some areas, additional splicing, testing or other network work may still need to be completed before customers can be activated.
How Does Fibre Internet Connect to Your Home?
Once the network serving your area is ready, fibre makes its way to your home through several connected pieces of infrastructure.
It begins with the main fibre network, which forms the backbone of the connection.
From there, fibre is routed to a neighbourhood hub, bringing the network closer to homes in the area.
A dedicated fibre drop line then connects the neighbourhood network directly to your home.
Inside the home, an Optical Network Terminal, or ONT, converts the fibre signal into a format your devices can use. The ONT connects to your Wi-Fi router, allowing you to connect phones, computers, TVs and other devices throughout the home.
Together, these components create an end-to-end fibre connection from the network directly to the customer.
Why Permits and Infrastructure Work Can Affect Timelines
Some parts of a fibre build can involve particularly complex approvals.
One example shared during the webinar was the submarine fibre connection to St. Joseph Island. The project received the final approval required for the submarine cable installations at the end of June following nearly 18 months of coordination and follow-up.
The St. Joseph Island submarine cable deployment has now been completed, creating an important connection between the island and the broader fibre network.
With remaining construction, splicing and testing progressing, service readiness is expected to begin in stages from mid-October onward. Individual installation timing will depend on the network serving each home and scheduling with the service provider.
It’s a good example of why fibre projects can look different from one community or road to another. Construction, permitting, utility work, testing and activation all need to come together before service can be turned on.
More Northern Ontario Communities Are Moving Toward Service
Across the broader Northern Ontario project, more than 1,500 premises have reached Ready to Activate status, meaning progress toward customer activation is now visible across multiple communities.
This includes premises in communities such as Lively, Johnson Township, Gordon, Gore Bay, Macdonald, Meredith and Aberdeen Additional, Plummer Additional, Tarbutt and Tarbutt Additional, Laird and Spring Bay.
On Manitoulin Island, fibre service is already available in Gore Bay, Gordon and Barrie Island, with construction and network preparation continuing in other areas.
The project team is working toward making service available before the end of 2026 in Burpee and Mills, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Sheguiandah, Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation and parts of Billings Township.
NIVO Is Showing Up in the Communities We Serve
For NIVO, connecting a community means more than bringing fibre to an address.
Throughout the summer, our team has been getting out into communities, meeting residents, supporting local activities and listening to the people who live and work in the areas we serve.
That included events such as Harbour Days, the Blind River Fair and Parade, the Laird Fair, the Echo Bay baseball finals and the Massey Fair, along with other local activities across the region.
You may have also spotted the NIVO Community Cruiser on the road. It gives our team another way to get out from behind the desk and connect face-to-face with residents, families, businesses and local organizations.
And there’s more to come. From family-oriented activities and local business partnerships to future events designed to let residents experience the benefits of fibre firsthand, we plan to keep showing up throughout the communities we serve.
Recognizing the People Who Make Communities Stronger
The webinar also highlighted the NIVO Community Champions Program, created to recognize local leaders, volunteers and everyday community members who make a difference where they live.
During the webinar, NIVO recognized Terri-Lynne Procenko for her work with the Elks Lodge and her ongoing contribution to local community activities.
Strong communities are built by the people who continue to show up for them, and NIVO is proud to help recognize those contributions.
What Fibre Can Unlock for Homes and Businesses
Fast, reliable internet is ultimately about what it allows people to do.
For families, that can mean staying connected through high-quality video calls, accessing education remotely or having multiple people online at the same time without worrying about whether the connection will keep up.
For local businesses, it can mean reliable point-of-sale systems, stable video calls and cloud-based tools that work when they’re needed.
Reliable connectivity can also make it easier for people to work remotely, pursue education and professional opportunities, and continue living, working and investing in their own communities.
Five Trees for Every New NIVO Customer
NIVO also shared a new environmental initiative during the webinar.
Through our partnership with Evertreen, five trees will be planted for every new NIVO customer, supporting reforestation, carbon absorption, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.
Every new NIVO connection will contribute to that effort from day one.
A Smoother Installation Experience with the NIVO App
Another update shared during the webinar was the launch of the NIVO App in Ontario.
The app is designed to make the installation process easier by giving customers real-time visibility into their technician’s location and progress.
It also helps NIVO coordinate jobs, technicians and service territories as we continue expanding into more communities across Ontario.
Building Toward What’s Next
As more areas move through construction, testing and service readiness, NIVO will continue working with communities and residents to help make the transition from fibre construction to an active connection as straightforward as possible.