THE CANADIAN PRESS

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HALIFAX - Officials in Nova Scotia say the province is now one step closer to ensuring that every resident has access to high-speed Internet service by the end of 2009.

The province announced Wednesday a $1-million contract with a Montreal company to connect all residents of Halifax Regional Municipality with better Internet service.

Economic Development Minister Angus MacIsaac says the money will provide broadband access to about 1,300 civic addresses in rural areas that were not part of a separate initiative by the municipality earlier this year.

The contract with OmniGlobe Networks is part of the $75-million Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative.

The cost of the initiative is being split between the provincial and federal governments and three Internet service providers.

The province says that although 80 per cent of Nova Scotia has broadband access, about 200,000 people don't have affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access.