First customer connects to Newmarket's fibre internet network

TelMAX has connected its first fibre internet customer since purchasing the Town of Newmarket's internet service provider, ENVI, last fall. 

Adam Reinhardt, who lives in the Leslie Valley Drive area, called to inquire about TelMAX as soon as he saw the signs going up around town. He happened to be the first caller and became the first customer to be connected. 

“I’ve never been the first customer for anything before,” he said. “But happy to be the first customer and support a smaller local company.” 

He has been connected since Friday and said so far it's "exactly what we expected and even beyond, I think.”

TelMAX CEO Stuart Roberts visited the Reinhardt home to celebrate the first local customer. 

“It's a really exciting day for us and we hope it's a big day for Newmarket. We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. 

This internet service provider is a big investment for the company, which is based in Stouffville, and involves a lot of work to physically get the fibre optic lines installed in the ground. 

However, the investment has greatly accelerated the project, according to Mayor John Taylor. He said the town launched ENVI in 2018 to be an economic driver and provide faster internet to residents. TelMAX taking over has brought the project timeline up by several years, he said. 

This is especially important as Taylor said there has been a greater demand for better internet lately. 

“Coincidentally in the midst of all this, people began en masse to work from home, and so the importance of fast fibre to the home is more important than ever,” he said. 

He added there has also been a lot of discussion in the news and among Canadians about the need for choice in the sector. 

“This is providing an opportunity to the residents of Newmarket that few anywhere will experience,” Taylor said. 

He was also on hand to celebrate the first customer and said it's very exciting to see this economic development and infrastructure support for the town. 

"It makes it very real. We’ve been in discussions and negotiations with TelMAX for quite some time … to see this now, these conversations you have around a table about ideas and theories becoming a reality and delivering value to the residents of Newmarket, is very exciting,” he said. 

Work is ongoing throughout Newmarket to install the fibre lines and get more customers connected. Roberts said there will be door-to-door sales teams coming by when the work is completed in each area for residents who wish to sign on, or residents can connect TelMAX anytime to become an early adopter of the service.