Residents in Lake of Bays want better internet service.
Township officials released a survey between April and August to find out how permanent and seasonal residents feel about the current internet service available.
Out of 1,600 responses, 85 per cent of residents said they weren’t happy with their current internet service. Over half of these residents said they currently used internet through a cell phone or wireless service. Over 11 per cent said they couldn’t get access to internet services at all. Nearly 70 per cent said they would definitely sign up if fibre optic internet service was available. Almost 50 per cent of residents said fiber optic would significantly improve their quality of life.
The township will be forwarding this data to internet service providers like Bell and Lakeland Networks with the hope to expand a fibre optic network into Lake of Bays. Earlier this year, Lakeland Networks announced it would be applying for funding to bring fibre optic internet to nearly 4,000 homes in rural Muskoka.