A private-public partnership deal signed June 5 in Chapleau is being heralded as a major step forward in developing new economic opportunities. The partnership delivers high-speed broadband and telecommunications services through a consortium with the Town of Chapleau's agreement with NetCentral Community Communications Network, a consortium of O.N. Telecom, Persona Communications Inc. and Greater Sudbury Telecommunications. The agreement launches the high-speed, fibre optic network to businesses, municipal and public institutions in Sudbury, Parry Sound, Manitoulin, Elliot Lake, Chapleau and the surrounding area. The service to Chapleau is scheduled to start sometime this year. The network features an asynchronous transmission mode fibre optic backbone.