Customers in Central Ontario will soon have access to 1 gigabit Internet service as Lakeland Networks starts rolling out what’s it calls the fastest service in Ontario.

Starting in April municipalities, schools, hospitals, police and businesses will be offered the 1 Gb service which is over 50 times faster than data transfer speed in Canada – that being under 20 megabits per second.

"This first of its kind offering gives business an advantage in a tough economic environment, while helping to attract new business opportunities for the local economy," said Chris Litschko, CEO of Lakeland Holding, which owns the Internet subsidiary.

This first of its kind offering gives business an advantage in a tough economic environment, while helping to attract new business opportunities for the local economy. - Chris Litschko, CEO of Lakeland Holding

Those in Muskoka-Almaguin will be the first in Ontario to access the service. Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver all have 1 Gb fibre offerings from other companies.

"Everyone wins, and with Muskoka and Almaguin having easy access to the highway corridor, available real estate, and now the fastest Internet, we hope companies look to our area to host their business operations or new ventures," Litschko said.

Lakeland has recently upgraded its equipment to support the "blazing fast" service.

The Bracebridge, Ont., company drew a comparison to the speed of a car to demonstrate the capability of the 1 Gb offering versus the average transfer speed.

“An average Internet speed ‘car’ trip from Halifax to Vancouver would take over 12 days (non-stop). A Lakeland Networks fibre Internet Gig ‘car' would be able to do the same trip in just over 3 hours,” the company said.

According to Lakeland, companies will be able to exchange large files 50 times faster. The service will also improve hospitals that share diagnostic imaging with specialists.

Lakeland Holding is owned by five municipalities in Central Ontario, including: Bracebridge, Huntsville, Burk's Falls, Sundridge and Magnetawan.

Since 2007 Lakeland Networks has expanded to own over 250 kilometres of fibre.