Telus is investing $21 million within 91原创 City to connect homes and businesses to its advanced fibre optic network.
Direct fibre connection will dramatically boost data capacity, providing local homes and businesses access to the gigabit-enabled Telus PureFibre network.
鈥淭he network that we鈥檙e building today is equipped to keep pace for generations to come,鈥� said Leigh Tynan, the Telus director of business strategy development. 鈥淲e are going to need faster and faster connections.鈥�
The project is underway and could connect more than 90 per cent of 91原创 City homes and businesses directly to the network.
鈥淭here鈥檚 also no requirement to be a Telus customer to accept that connection to your home or businesses,鈥� Tynan said. 鈥淎nd there鈥檚 no obligation to buy once you鈥檙e connected. We want to replace our network.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 no strings attached鈥�. Well just one. There鈥檚 a really small pure fibre string attached,鈥� she said.
Tynan said with Telus having done this work in other communities, there鈥檚 been misunderstanding about the offer to connect and that鈥檚 something the telecom has had to work to overcome.
People can sign up electronically on the Telus website to be connected (connecting does not obligate them to buy any services from Telus) or they can sign a paper consent form after booking a Telus employee to come to their home and do the connection.
The work is so Telus is ready for the future demands of technology, including the coming of 5G cellphones and the concept of smart cities (highly connected communities.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also providing the network effectively, for crazy technology like self-driving cars,鈥� Tynan added. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 only possible when you have a ubiquitous network of wireless.鈥�
Such technology will allow for telecommuting, cloud computer services, and managed IT services and will help 91原创 City attract residents who can work in the tech sector and could increase property values.
Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce executive director Colleen Clark said she was living in Sechelt when Telus did the same work there.
鈥淚 know what this can actually do for business,鈥� Clark commented. 鈥淭his is a huge plus for business, whether you鈥檙e a small home-based business who is working from her house or a huge community member who has a brick and mortar office.鈥�
鈥�91原创 City is continually strengthening our position as the regional hub in the Fraser Valley for innovation, education, technology, shopping, health industry, leisure, and entertainment,鈥� said City Mayor Ted Schaffer. 鈥淲ith Telus鈥� investment in 91原创 City, the new network will provide residents with more options when it comes to enhanced high-speed internet service.鈥�
The majority of the project will be done by spring 2019. There may be a few houses and businesses that cannot connect to the network based on their own infrastructure. Condos can connect if the strata council has a majority vote. Rental buildings can connect if the owner approves. Each tenant would then have the option to connect within their space.
The project was announced Thursday afternoon at 91原创 City hall.
鈥淚t鈥檚 part of a wider commitment to a $4.7 billion in infrastructure and facilities across British Columbia through 2020,鈥� Tynan said.
This work has been done in other B.C. communities, including Abbotsford. It鈥檚 in progress in Surrey but there鈥檚 nothing definite on when this will happen in 91原创 Township.
