An Ipsos-Reid study indicates that while 91 percent of Canadians currently have access the internet at home, that number goes down to 70 percent in households with an annual income under $25,000 (Canadian). In a statement released Friday, Rogers says it is looking to expand affordable high-speed internet to approximately 15,000 subsidized households in Ottawa through its Connected for Success program. “This means the approximately 32,000 individuals living in Ottawa Community Housing’s (OCH) subsidized non-profit housing now have the opportunity to benefit from Rogers’ $9.99 monthly internet program, enabling more Canadians to fully participate in the digital economy,” the operator reports.
Rogers’ Connected for Success program has the stated aim of bridging the digital divide for up to 150,000 households across the operator’s cable footprint in Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
“The City of Ottawa recognizes the importance of access to affordable internet for all residents, and I am pleased to see this collaboration between Ottawa Community Housing Corporation and Rogers,” Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson comments. “This collaboration is essential for OCH to continue providing affordable internet access and bridging the digital divide for their tenants. They will now have additional options for accessing online tools and be able to learn more skills, which in turn will build stronger communities all across Ottawa.”
Rogers initially rolled out the program back in 2013, and reports it has collaborated with more than 135 non-profit housing providers across Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. Connected for Success offers speeds of up to 10 Mbps download and up to 1 Mbps upload, according to the operator.
