KITIMAT – As part of a strategic partnership with the Province, TELUS has invested $1 million to build a new wireless site along Highway 37, bringing wireless service to approximately 13 kilometers of Highway 37 between Kitimat and Lakelse Lake. The site is now live, and also provides new coverage to the southern parts of Lakelse Lake.
“This investment brings wireless service to parts of Lakelse Lake for the first time, which means residents in the area can now connect with family and friends when they’re at home or on the go with their mobile devices,” said Lance MacDonald, TELUS General Manager for Northern British Columbia. “Bringing wireless services to this stretch of highway also enhances the safety of travel for residents and visitors by providing access to 911 in the event of an emergency.”
The project is part of the Connecting British Columbia Agreement TELUS signed with the Province of BC in 2011. Under the terms of the agreement TELUS will invest to connect more than 1,700 kilometres of unconnected highways with wireless service.
“Having wireless service along Highway 37 is not only convenient for local residents and tourists, but it can also make a real difference when people need to call emergency services,” said Amrik Virk, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services. “This new wireless site will provide British Columbians with better opportunities to learn, do business, access services and stay connected while making travel in the region safer by allowing for faster reporting of road accidents,”
This April, TELUS announced a commitment to invest $4.5 billion in British Columbia through 2019 to extend fibre optic infrastructure directly to thousands of homes and businesses in rural and urban communities, further strengthen wireless service, and support key services including healthcare and education with new technologies. By the end of 2019 TELUS will have invested more than $51 billion in British Columbia since 2000.
