TELUS to build broadband network in southern British Columbia via Universal Broadband Fund
The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, has announced CAN$6.7 million in funding from the Universal Broadband Fund's (UBF’s) Rapid Response Stream for a project to deploy internet infrastructure in southern British Columbia. TELUS Communications will receive the funding and construct the broadband network, which will aim to connect 1,977 underserved households in Pemberton, Steelhead, Ryder Lake, northwest of Princeton, and the north Sunshine Coast regions of the province.
"High-speed Internet service is essential to the success of everyone living and working in rural British Columbia. Today's investment will bring reliable, high-speed Internet access to 1,977 households in southern British Columbia, helping create jobs, improving access to health care and online learning services, and keeping people connected to their loved ones,” Minister Monsef stated. “Our government has committed approximately CAN$90 million to 20 connectivity projects in British Columbia, which will connect over 28,000 more households to better, faster internet. We will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian to the high-speed Internet they need."
"TELUS is committed to ensuring all British Columbians can stay connected to the people and information that matter the most,” added Shazia Zeb Sobani, vice-president of customer network implementation at TELUS. “Social capitalism is a central thesis of what we do, and by bringing our PureFibre network to 11 more rural communities in partnership with the Universal Broadband Fund, we are bridging digital divides. Since 2013, we have invested more than $5 billion to connect 2.5 million premises in 137 communities to our PureFibre network, including 1.6 million Canadians living in rural and remote parts of our country, as well as 56 First Nations in B.C. These investments ensure British Columbians in more remote parts of our province have equal access to the educational, health and economic opportunities that PureFibre's speed and capacity provide."
The Canadian government launched the $1.75 billion Universal Broadband Fund last November. The BC project, announced February 18, was approved within three months of the Fund’s launch. The government expects projects funded under the UBF and other public and private investments will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. Applications to the UBF are being accepted until 3:00 p.m. (ET) on March 15, 2021.
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About the Author
Stephen Hardy
Editorial Director and Associate Publisher, Lightwave
Stephen Hardy is editorial director and associate publisher of Lightwave and Broadband Technology Report, part of the Lighting & Technology Group at Endeavor Business Media. Stephen is responsible for establishing and executing editorial strategy across the both brands’ websites, email newsletters, events, and other information products. He has covered the fiber-optics space for more than 20 years, and communications and technology for more than 35 years. During his tenure, Lightwave has received awards from Folio: and the American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE) for editorial excellence. Prior to joining Lightwave in 1997, Stephen worked for Telecommunications magazine and the Journal of Electronic Defense.
Stephen has moderated panels at numerous events, including the Optica Executive Forum, ECOC, and SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. He also is program director for the Lightwave Innovation Reviews and the Diamond Technology Reviews.
He has written numerous articles in all aspects of optical communications and fiber-optic networks, including fiber to the home (FTTH), PON, optical components, DWDM, fiber cables, packet optical transport, optical transceivers, lasers, fiber optic testing, and more.
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