Construction on a new Telus fibre optic network will begin in Whistler and Squamish this fall after the company announced Aug. 10 a $27-million investment to do the work.
The telecom company expects more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses will be connected to the gigabit-enabled fibre optic network by early 2022, and says the work will dramatically increase wireless and internet speeds while also expanding cellular coverage in the region.
For Whistler resident Paul Hothersall, who has worked remotely in the IT field for the past five years, the announcement is exciting.
“The download speed may be similar to what you can get from Shaw, but ultimately it can scale more,” he said.
“Especially if you’re doing work from home, there’s multiple people, like families [in your building] or you’re backing stuff up, or any of those different things, the difference is in the internet upload speed, even at their slower packages.
“It’s technically a better product, but it’s also more useful for people at every price point, so I’m really excited about it.”
For those living in strata properties or multi-residential buildings, Hothersall advised discussing the new network with your strata council or property management.
“They’re going to be starting building from Labour Day weekend … You may as well do it while they’re going to be on your street,” he said.
“But if you’re in a strata property, you need to get onto your strata council to make sure that they’re signing the piece of paperwork in order to allow Telus to be able to do it.”
Fibre optic infrastructure has been in place in Whistler since 2008, when Bell Canada installed a 285-kilometre fibre-optic cable from Vancouver to the resort ahead of the 2010 Olympic Games.
With its investment, Telus hopes to bring more customers in the corridor onto the fibre optic network, and away from shared copper connections.
“Telus is very proud to be making this generational investment in Whistler and Squamish, providing the technology to bridge geographic and socio-economic divides and connect citizens to the people, resources and information that make their lives better, particularly as we continue to navigate the global pandemic,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO of Telus, in a release. “Importantly, Telus PureFibre offers the community a globally unmatched wireline infrastructure that ensures all citizens have access to the digital tools to drive improved health, social and economic outcomes.”
The upgrade will enable entrepreneurs, start-ups and home-based businesses and workers to benefit from the same internet speeds, functionality, reliability and security that large enterprises currently enjoy, Entwistle said.
“We look forward to connecting our fellow British Columbia residents in Whistler and Squamish to Telus PureFibre and supporting the community as it attracts new industries and innovators, supporting the jobs of today and those that have yet to be imagined.”
Read more at telus.com/purefibre.
