CochraneTel Expands Rural Broadband & Fibre to the Home Network

Over 500 customers to benefit from Broadband Wireless in three rural neighbourhoods and additional high-speed connectivity in Town.

Cochrane, ON, CANADA (June 17, 2021) – Subsequent to EION Inc.’s acquisition of Cochrane Telecom Services Inc. (CochraneTel), the company is excited to announce Phase I of the network expansion. In its commitment to upgrade services, CochraneTel is targeting two primary upgrades: Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) and rural neighbourhoods surrounding the Town of Cochrane.

“When we acquired CochraneTel, we made a commitment to expand the existing network to provide high-speed connectivity to the citizens of Cochrane who live in rural neighbourhoods around the township. I’m very pleased to announce that we are fulfilling that commitment and going beyond by providing fibre connectivity for those living and working in urban neighbourhoods,’ said Kalai S. Kalaichelvan, Chairman, CochraneTel. “I want to personally thank the combined CochraneTel and EION teams who have been working hard to ensure that we start deploying these upgrades within 90 days of completing the acquisition,” he concluded.

Rural upgrades will be deployed in three phases. Phase I, which will be completed this year, will include coverage for residents near 49^th Parallel, CS Enterprises and Guppy Road. Customers located in these areas will soon be able to receive internet services of 50 Mbps DL/10 Mbps UL, on par with their urban counterparts in Town.

Fibre is the most dependable mode for the highest speeds of internet service and will be available this summer to customers in the downtown core, 17^th, 18^th and 19^th Avenue, Lakefront, South Highway and Vaillancourt Trailer Park.

We will be ramping up further in the Phase II and III network expansion projects, currently scheduled for 2022.

“When EION acquired CochraneTel in March, I know that some people were skeptical about whether they would fulfill their obligations to expand the existing broadband network. Not only are they expanding the CochraneTel wireless network into rural areas on a priority basis, but they are also investing in Fibre to the Premise in the first phase of the planned expansion. I am very pleased that EION is making such significant investments to benefit the citizens of Cochrane. This will have a huge impact for all of us,” stated Denis Clement, Mayor of the Town of Cochrane and Member, Board of Directors, CochraneTel.

About Cochrane Telecom Services Inc.

CochraneTel was founded in 1921 under the Public Utilities Commission, to provide electricity, water and sewer and telephone services to the community of Cochrane. With the introduction of competition in the electricity market and the disbanding of Commissions across the province, Cochrane Telecom Services (CTS) was formed in 2003, to continue providing telecommunications to the community. In 1994 internet was introduced to Cochrane, which has become one of our primary sources of revenue.

In 2015, CTS pursued the implementation of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), a television service offered through the same copper and fibre cables that transport all our services.

CochraneTel looks forward to delivering ever improving services to all the people of Cochrane, both in the rural and urban communities, for another 100 years to come.

About EION Wireless

EION Wireless, headquartered in Ottawa, ON Canada, is a global provider of Broadband Wireless Access products that enable effective, economic and secure wireless high-speed communications solutions. Formed in 2001, EION is a global provider of 4G Mobile LTE solutions, and high-speed broadband wireless products. With Global Customer Support Operations in India, and multiple regional sales offices around the globe, EION Wireless works with more than 165 worldwide channel partners to support some of the largest 4G deployments in the world. EION Wireless has established over 50 Gold partners globally. EION channel partners support various enterprise sectors such as Oil & Gas, WISP, Government Institutions, Mining, and Public Safety & Security. EION products are sold to Tier I and II Service Providers directly.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

John O’Farrell