YorkNet

Incorporated in 2017, YorkNet is a Region-owned corporation that plans, builds, operates, manages and maintains a high-speed, dark-fibre network across York Region.

YorkNet is focused on maintaining and expanding the Region’s telecom network to support economic development and innovation in York Region, and to provide cost-effective and open access fibre connectivity for the Region.

What started out as a small network in 2002 had grown to a 200-kilometre fibre route by 2018, connecting a variety of Regional buildings and assets, including traffic control, transit, social housing units and water-quality monitoring systems. This network also supports administrative services across the Region, connects hospitals, local municipal operations, libraries and police services. We continue to grow the network year over year.

YorkNet is mandated to deliver on the following three key priorities:

  1. Continuing to grow the Region’s fibre network to improve the delivery of Regional services, such as traffic management, transit, infrastructure monitoring and policing
  2. Working with municipalities, schools, hospitals and other public-sector organizations in the Region to leverage the network to improve services
  3. Providing private-sector open access to the network to drive economic and social benefits that will give residents, businesses and public-sector customers enhanced service, better pricing, or both, particularly in rural areas of the Region

Governance

YTN Telecom Network Inc. (YorkNet is the operational name) is a Municipal Services Corporation established under Ontario Regulation 599/06. As a municipal corporation, YorkNet’s operations are governed by the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA), rather than the Municipal Act, as is the case for York Region and all municipalities in Ontario.

Board of Directors

  • Mayor Margaret Quirk, Town of Georgina (Chair of the Board)
  • Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson, York Region
  • Mayor Virginia Hackson, Town of East Gwillimbury
  • Mayor Iain Lovatt, Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville
  • Mayor Steven Pellegrini, Township of King
  • Mayor Frank Scarpitti, City of Markham
  • Mayor John Taylor, Town of Newmarket
  • Regional Councillor Jim Jones, City of Markham
  • Regional Councillor Gino Rosati, City of Vaughan

Working together, the future of broadband is bright

York Region is taking steps to improve access to high speed broadband in our communities. Through our own dark fibre network, operated and managed by YorkNet, we continue to expand broadband services across the Region.

YorkNet is also taking an active role in facilitating service improvements by seeking and applying for eligible program funding at provincial and federal levels. To help advance our efforts to successfully secure broadband funding, we need the help of our communities.

York Region residents are asked to provide feedback about existing internet service availability in rural and remote areas to help inform the design and development of a new federal government-funded program, the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF).

What York Region residents can do:

About the Universal Broadband Fund

The federal government has introduced the Fund to support broadband projects across Canada. It is designed to meet the unique needs of rural and remote communities. For more information, please visit the Universal Broadband Fund website.

Connect to Innovate

Connect to Innovate (CTI) is a Federal Government program managed by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Launched on December 15, 2016, the program issued a call for applications inviting those eligible to apply for funding that would bring highspeed internet to rural and remote communities across Canada. The CTI program helps ensure these communities are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the digital age.

Connect to Innovate Information Sessions

In the fall of 2019, the Town of Georgina together with The Regional Municipality of York hosted information sessions to share information with residents about the Region’s expansion of dark fibre into our community through YorkNet (a municipal services corporation owned by the Region).

At that time, we shared the good news that dark fibre would be installed by spring 2021 on Georgina Island and in Udora.

Materials from the information sessions are provided below:

Information Brochure

Presentation

Connect to Innovate Construction

The Connect to Innovate route extends from Woodbine Avenue in East Gwillimbury where it connects to Baseline Road in Georgina, up to Georgina Island and then down to Weir Sideroad.

Construction is currently underway and all construction is expected to be completed by the end of April 2021. The Region and the towns are now working with local Internet Service Providers so that, once construction is completed, they are ready to connect to the Region’s dark fibre network and offer more residents with high speed internet in our communities.

Stay informed with the latest progress and construction updates

Construction Updates

Baseline Road from Dalton Road West to Civic Road– June 22, 2020

Baseline Road and Woodbine Avenue – July 20,2020

Telecommunication and Internet Service Providers

Telecommunication and internet service providers can access York Region’s public, dark-fibre network for flexible capacity and connectivity options, including the opportunity to:

  • Extend your network footprint
  • Take advantage of our high-quality network
  • Access dark-fibre and scale your bandwidth to meet consumer demand
  • Get you to your customers faster and more cost-efficiently

The Broader Public Sector

There are a variety of benefits for municipalities, universities, school boards, hospitals and others to connect to YorkNet’s advanced dark fibre network. These include:

  • Accessing York Region’s public dark- fibre network for flexible capacity and connectivity options
  • Improving broadband availability over time to better connect York Region, especially in rural and underserved areas
  • Accessing unlimited bandwidth via dark-fibre, ideal for high-bandwidth activities, cloud-based applications and remote data centre operations

For more information on partnering with YorkNet to deliver or receive high-speed internet across York Region, please contact @email.

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