The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that the federal government will help finance a new Internet network to provide nationwide sovereign connectivity, and introduce new tax measures to lower the cost of building fibre optic cables, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday morning. The Globe's Irene Galea writes that the feds plan to help fund "a sovereign broadband backbone that connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast, with more direct and secure links to Europe and Asia," Mr. Carney said during opening remarks at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. A "broadband backbone" is the high-capacity core of the Internet network that carries traffic between cities and countries. Mr. Carney told reporters the backbone would also include connections to the Arctic. Representatives for Canada's major telecom companies supported Mr. Carney's announcement. "We see a clear economic opportunity for Canada in building a sovereign digital fibre route," said Rogers chief executive officer Tony Staffieri in a statement Tuesday. BCE also spoke favourably of the broadband project and said the company will take a closer look at the details when they are available. Telus and Quebecor also support the plan.