Direct fibre connection will dramatically boost data capacity, providing local homes and businesses access to the gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network

Kitimat, B.C. – TELUS is investing $12 million to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Kitimat directly to its fibre optic network. Planning is currently underway, and construction work will begin in the coming weeks. TELUS anticipates connecting all homes and businesses before the end of 2017.

“Direct fibre connection unleashes infinite possibilities now and into the future, helping to reimagine the Internet experience as we know it,” said Tony Geheran, TELUS Executive Vice-President and President of Broadband Networks. “This investment will dramatically improve Internet speed and capacity for residents, businesses, health care facilities and schools, and as technology evolves the network will be equipped to keep pace and offer even faster speeds. Kitimat is a beautiful place to live, and now residents and businesses will have the same or even better access to the Internet than some communities in the Lower Mainland, truly giving Kitimat a competitive advantage.”

The gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network is among the most advanced communications infrastructure available in the world today, enabling connected residents to immediately take advantage of dramatically faster Internet speeds of up to 150 megabits per second, while interested businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and institutions can access even more speed and capacity. As demand and Internet technologies evolve in the coming years TELUS will offer faster speeds and more capacity, sufficient for decades to come. This new fibre optic infrastructure will also be the backbone of TELUS’ wireless network, enabling even more wireless capacity and speed. Local healthcare providers, educators and technology companies will be able to draw upon the technology to reimagine how they deliver existing services and develop entirely new solutions.

“I’d like to thank TELUS for investing in Kitimat’s connectivity infrastructure,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services. “Expanding and improving Internet services will create a host of opportunities for residents and businesses, including supporting future growth and new jobs in the community. Creating the conditions for rural British Columbia to grow and thrive is important to our government.”

“I’m very excited about what this investment will bring to the community of Kitimat,” said Mayor Philip Germuth. “Supporting sustainable economic growth and enhancing quality of life for our residents is an important goal for Council. We welcome this investment and what this innovative technology can do for the future of our community.”

This investment is part of TELUS’ commitment to invest $4.5 billion throughout B.C. between 2016 and 2019, at no cost to taxpayers. Since 2013, TELUS has connected more than 50 communities across B.C. to the TELUS PureFibre network. For more information, please visit telus.com/Kitimat, and for a list of connected communities, please visit telus.com/fibre and click ‘view fibre communities’.