Montréal, July 9, 2021 – Videotron is pleased to announce, in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Government of Québec, that it has been selected under Canada-Québec Operation High-Speed to connect more than 5,300 households to high-speed Internet in the Lower St. Lawrence region by September 30, 2022. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue and MP for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Marie-Eve Proulx, MNA for Côte-du-Sud, Denis Tardif, MNA for Rivière-du-Loup–Témiscouata, and Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor.
The homes that will be connected are located in 44 municipalities in the regional county municipalities of Les Basques, Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup and Témiscouata. Over the next few months, Videotron will survey the territory to make sure no household is left without service.
Today, high-speed Internet is considered an essential service. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for Québec’s rural communities to have access to 21st century digital infrastructure. After decades of waiting, almost all outlying communities will have access to the same level of service as is available in the big cities. The projects funded under Canada–Québec Operation High Speed are key to Québec’s digital shift. They will make it easier to access telemedicine, distance education, entertainment, online shopping and telework.
A full product line-up and the best customer experience
The newly connected households will be able to subscribe to Helix, Videotron’s new home entertainment and connected lifestyle experience. Its voice remote capabilities, ultra-intelligent Wi-Fi and support for home automation will make Helix a welcome addition in many rural Québec households.
More Quebecers will also soon enjoy the best customer experience, at the same price as in the major urban centres. Not only do the households targeted by this project lack access to high-speed Internet, but they are often paying too much for inferior technology. This will end with Videotron’s arrival.
Quotes
“This is excellent news for the Lower St. Lawrence region and for rural Québec as a whole. The pandemic has shown us how essential high-speed Internet access has become for our communities, not only for bringing people together virtually but also for working, studying and doing business. Our government understands that it is urgent and vital to connect communities in Québec and Canada. We are proud to participate in this important project and will continue to invest and partner with the Government of Québec to ensure each household and business has access to high-speed Internet.”
Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue of Canada and MP for Gaspésie–Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine
“Today’s announcement is very important for the Lower St. Lawrence region. As a result of the collaboration between our government and Videotron, 5,300 households will have access to reliable, powerful high-speed Internet services by September 2022. I am proud of the work we have done. We are honouring our commitment. We will be connectivity leaders.”
Gilles Bélanger, Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier of Québec (high-speed Internet)
“Videotron is proud to have been chosen to connect these homes in the region to high-speed Internet. Our company has been present in Lower St. Lawrence homes for many years. Today’s announcement means we will be able to connect more residents to our network. By September 2022, 5,300 more households in the region will have access to the best in telecommunications, with the best service, at the best price.”
Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor
Highlights
- Operation High Speed is a joint initiative by the governments of Canada and Québec to connect 148,000 households that are still without high-speed Internet. Videotron will be responsible for connecting 37,000 of these homes.
- Videotron will build a fibre optic-based new-generation network that supports speeds well above the 50/10 Mbps required by the government.
- Local residents will have access to Helix, Videotron’s new home entertainment and connected lifestyle experience.
- See the full list of municipalities that will be served by Videotron.
- The new connections include the households that will be connected under the Régions branchées project. Videotron will begin work immediately and the project will be completed by September 30, 2022.
If you live in a currently underserved community and have questions, visit our website to follow the project’s progress.
About Videotron
Videotron, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in television, entertainment, Internet access, wireline telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its Helix home entertainment and management platform. As of March 31, 2021, Videotron was serving 1,459,100 cable television customers and 477,900 subscribers to its Club illico video streaming service. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,807,400 subscribers as of March 31, 2021. As of the same date, Videotron had 1,503,200 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing wireline telephone service to 897,700 Québec households and organizations. Videotron has ranked as Québec’s most respected telecommunications company every year for the past 16 years.
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Media contact:
Merick Séguin
Public Relations Advisor, Corporate Affairs
Videotron
medias@videotron.com
438-889-3220
Marie-Pier Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development
marie-pier.baril@cfc-swc.gc.ca
613-295-8123
Alexandra Roy
Political Attaché
Office of the Premier
819-212-0459
