This past Saturday, community members, local officials, and technology partners came together at the Red McCarthy Pavilion in Espanola to mark a major milestone in the Northern Ontario Gigabit Fibre Project.

Hosted by PomeGran, the event offered residents an update on the project’s progress and a chance to meet the teams working behind the scenes. The initiative will bring high-speed fibre internet to more than 18,600 underserved households across Northern Ontario, including 2,580 Indigenous homes, helping bridge the digital divide for rural and remote communities.

“This is a big step. It’s not just a shovel in the ground, it’s a signal that fibre is almost here,” said Joe Hickey, President of PomeGran and Founder and President of ROCK Networks. “When this network goes live, it will mean real access to education, jobs, healthcare, and opportunity for families and businesses across Espanola.”

The network is being built using cutting-edge 25G PON fibre technology from Nokia, delivering future-ready infrastructure to communities that have historically been overlooked. Elected officials, including MP Terry Sheehan and MPP Bill Rosenberg, shared their support for the project and emphasized its importance for regional growth and connectivity.

As part of the celebration, PomeGran offered attendees a first glimpse at a new community-focused internet brand that will soon begin offering service in Espanola.

The celebration wrapped up with a free community BBQ and family-friendly activities, reinforcing PomeGran’s commitment to local connection and community engagement.

Stay tuned as we continue to bring gigabit fibre to Espanola and communities across Northern Ontario.