Premier Christy Clark announced Friday that work has begun on the contract her government signed with Telus (TSX:T) in July to upgrade B.C.’s telecommunication systems.
She said the upgrade will make B.C. a more connected, competitive province to live in through the government’s partnership with Telus.
"As part of my commitment to making British Columbia stronger and more competitive, we have secured this partnership to help expand high-speed Internet access to every community in the province, extend critical wireless coverage to highway corridors, and upgrade cutting edge communications technology in hundreds of schools and health-care facilities.”
Under the contract, Telus will provide telecommunication services to government and its public sector partners, including expansion of high-speed Internet in rural communities and wireless coverage along highways.
Installation of broadband wireless covering to 245 kilometres of previously unconnected areas of highways has already begun, and a further 1,700 kilometres are expected to receive wireless coverage within the next five years.
Telus will also connect the 3% of the population that cannot receive land-based connectivity, and will increase Internet speeds in many areas that fall under a previous agreement between Telus and the province.
"We're going to see a major expansion of Internet connections in rural and remote parts of the province over the next 10 years," said Labour,
Citizens' Services and Open Government Minister Margaret MacDiarmid.
"Expanding access to high-speed Internet will be an economic driver to
rural communities in B.C."
Jen O’Rourke
@jroar