Telus (TSX:T) has turned on the first of five new 4G cellular sites serving the Fraser Canyon, the company announced Thursday.
Telus has invested $4 million to bring wireless service to Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon. The investment is part of a partnership with the B.C. government.
The move brings 4G wireless voice and high-speed Internet services to motorists along Highway 1, as well as residents, businesses and visitors in Dogwood, Spuzzum, Yale, Boston Bar, Keefers and surrounding areas.
Four more cellular towers will be in operation early next year, providing coverage along much of the corridor.
Minister of public safety and solicitor general Shirley Bond, said “Closing the gaps in wireless service is crucial to travellers and emergency response personnel alike. This is great news from a public safety perspective.”
The Fraser Canyon project is a result of the 10-year Connecting British Columbia agreement signed with the B.C. government earlier this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, Telus will connect more than 1,700 kilometres of highway with wireless service, run fibre optic cable directly to nearly 450 B.C. schools, and make faster Internet speeds available to Internet service providers that rely on Telus infrastructure.
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV