About the Broadband Fund

The Broadband Fund supports projects that bring reliable Internet and mobile services to communities that need them most. Its focus is on rural, remote, and Indigenous areas where infrastructure limitations and other challenges have created connectivity gaps.

The goal is simple: make sure all Canadians can access reliable broadband and mobile services, no matter where they live.

By funding these projects, the Broadband Fund helps improve connectivity for households and strengthens connectivity for schools, hospitals, libraries, and businesses, thereby enabling Canadians to learn, stay safe, work, and thrive in today’s digital world.

Overview of the universal service objective

The CRTC established the universal service objective (USO) in 2016. It is defined as “Canadians, in urban, rural and remote areas, have access to voice services and broadband Internet access services, on both fixed and mobile wireless networks” (see Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2016-496). This means that Canadians in all areas of the country should have access to broadband Internet and cellphone services.

USO Targets

To measure progress toward the USO, the CRTC has set the following targets:

internet speeds of at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload
access to unlimited data at home and at work
access to LTE or better cellphone service
coverage for Canadians at home, at work, and on the road

How the Broadband Fund works

Funding for the Broadband Fund comes from contributions made by large telecommunications service providers (TSPs) operating in Canada. Learn more about the Revenue-based Contribution Regime.

The CRTC issues individual calls for applications through which projects are evaluated and selected. These calls can be general or targeted to specific areas of Canada or specific types of projects. Once funding is awarded, the Broadband Fund team works closely with recipients to issue funding as required while keeping track of the project’s progress to ensure that Canadians in the funded areas receive high-quality telecommunications services.

Types of projects funded

Under the Broadband Fund, the CRTC provides funding for the following project types:

Universal service objective projects, including:
- fixed broadband projects that provide new or improved wireline or wireless broadband Internet access services to households
- mobile projects that provide new or improved mobile services (voice and data) to households in one or more communities
- mobile projects that provide new or improved mobile services (voice and data) along major transportation roads
Satellite-dependent community projects, including:
- projects requesting funding for operational expenses to increase satellite transport capacity and improve the telecommunications services offered in a satellite-dependent community beyond the highest service speeds currently available in the area
- capital projects to build or upgrade earth station equipment and/or access infrastructure to improve telecommunications services
- capital transport infrastructure projects to connect a satellite-dependent community to an existing terrestrial network, eliminating the dependency on satellites for telecommunications services

Each call for applications will have a defined scope and the eligible project types may vary.

Closing the digital divide in Canada

The CRTC is not alone in its efforts to close the digital divide. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) High-Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Plan details federal investment efforts to bring USO-level service to all Canadians.

Examples include the following:

the Universal Broadband Fund, administered by ISED
the Rural and Northern Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, administered by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
the Canada Infrastructure Bank
the Accelerated Investment Incentive, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency

Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments also provide funding through their own broadband initiatives.

Learn more about Canada’s broadband funding programs.

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