p2025 high school grads: applications are open for the Lakeland Networks bursary

About Us

We’re Muskoka, Parry Sound and Almaguin’s leading local provider of the fastest internet available.

Our Mission

As Lakeland Networks evolves, we continue looking into the future—seeking out new technologies and opportunities to support our business environment. Our mandate is to provide our local areas with the best communication services that connect them to what is important in their lives. Our vision is to become the preferred communications service provider for Parry Sound, Muskoka, Almaguin, and Wasauksing First Nation areas through the provision of exceptional local service and support.

Our History

In 2000, Lakeland Energy Ltd. was founded as a company to handle the maintenance and repair of our municipality’s streetlights, tankless and conventional water heater rentals.

In the early 2000s the company completed some electrical engineering and distribution contracting projects for other parties.

Around 2008 the company provided some dark fibre to the local school board. From this they were subcontracted to provide fibre service to provincially run sites in Bracebridge, Huntsville, Burk’s Falls and Sundridge. The company also installed fibre optic communications to Lakeland Power’s municipal substations for monitoring and control.

Over time, it became apparent that this division had outgrown the name of Lakeland Energy; we needed to be more recognizable within the technology field. In 2010, Lakeland Energy Ltd. created a separate division, Lakeland Networks. The company then proceeded to provide high speed internet, phone service, IT hosting and consulting to businesses throughout Muskoka.

Around 2013 the company started providing high speed fibre internet and phone to residential customers, starting in Bracebridge.

In 2015 the company was awarded a Small Communities Fund government partnership of $9m, split 1/3 each between Provincial, Federal and Lakeland Energy, to offer high speed fibre internet services throughout more of Muskoka. The project was completed one year ahead of schedule and has been a huge success in providing more competitive services to residents and businesses.

In 2018 the company started providing triple play services: internet, phone, and digital TV.

In 2019, after assisting Wasauksing First Nation with their Connect to Innovate application, Lakeland provided high speed fibre internet, phone, and TV services to the island. This rollout was a success as Wasauksing First Nation was the first fibre optic broadband project completed in Canada under the Connect to Innovate federal funding program.

In 2020, Lakeland Networks made a new fibre optic expansion investment into the Northern communities of Burk’s Falls and Sundridge. This investment opened service to over 1000 homes and businesses.

In March of 2021, Lakeland was awarded $3.1M in Universal Broadband Funding (UBF) for the companies’ $4.8M rural community high-speed fibre internet project. Lakeland Networks contributed $1.7M to Project ROBIN (Rural Ontario Broadband Internet Network) and saw high-speed Internet brought to approximately 1,300 underserved households and businesses in South River, Katrine, Emsdale, Burk’s Falls, Sundridge, Lake Bernard, and Machar, Ontario.

May 2021 saw Lakeland awarded $701,055 in Universal Broadband Funding (UBF) for a High-Speed Internet build on Wasauksing First Nation land. This total project of $785,250 included Lakeland Networks’ contribution of $84,195. Project Wasauksing First Nation brought high-speed Internet to approximately 159 underserved households and businesses on Wasauksing First Nation land.

In 2022, mostly branched off Lakeland’s existing infrastructure, a funded project was completed to bring high-speed Internet to approximately 1,000 underserved households and businesses in Muskoka, including the communities of Severn Bridge, Bracebridge, and Huntsville. For this project, Lakeland was awarded $4M in Universal Broadband Funding (UBF). The total project of $5.3M included Lakeland Networks’ contribution of $1.3M.

Lakeland TV debuted in 2024 and was made available to all Lakeland Networks’ TV subscribers. This launch included a new “Lakeland TV” community channel and local channel additions enhancements to meet the local market viewing requirements and needs.

Currently the company services over 7,700 customers throughout Parry Sound, Muskoka, Almaguin, and Wasauksing First Nation areas.

A photo of the sign in front of Lakeland Holdings' office in Bracebridge, with the logos of Lakeland Power, Lakeland Networks, Lakeland Solutions and Lakeland Generation

Our Structure

Lakeland Networks provides internet services to more than 7,700 customers. Fibre optic internet service is provided in communities, from South River south to Orillia, east to Lindsay and Fenelon Falls, as well as service to Wasauksing First Nation and additionally Parry Sound. Lakeland Networks is the largest and most diverse locally owned and based communications provider in the Districts of Parry Sound & Muskoka. Lakeland Networks is a subsidiary of Lakeland Holding Ltd. wholly owned by the municipalities of Bracebridge, Huntsville, Parry Sound, Burk’s Falls, Sundridge and Magnetawan.