TELUS investing $15 million to connect Pitt Meadows to gigabit-enabled fibre optic network, dramatically increasing wireless and Internet speeds throughout the region
Advanced TELUS PureFibre network will connect residents and businesses directly to gigabit Internet speeds while expanding cellular coverage throughout the region
Pitt Meadows, B.C. – TELUS is investing $15 million to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Pitt Meadows, including Katzie First Nation’s IR #1 reserve, directly to its fibre optic network, enhancing wireline and wireless connectivity, and preparing the region for 5G technology in the years ahead. Construction on the PureFibre network is already underway, and TELUS anticipates the majority of homes and businesses will be connected by the end of the summer next year.
“TELUS is very proud to be making this generational investment in Pitt Meadows, providing the technology to bridge geographic and socio-economic divides and connect citizens to the people, resources and information that make their lives better,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “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. Moreover, TELUS PureFibre enables entrepreneurs, start-ups and home-based businesses to benefit from the same Internet speeds, functionality, reliability and security that large enterprises currently enjoy. We look forward to connecting our fellow British Columbians in Pitt Meadows and beyond 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.”
Since 2000 through 2018, TELUS has invested more than $47 billion in technology and operations in B.C., and over the next three years through 2021, TELUS plans on investing an additional $8 billion connecting and supporting communities at no cost to taxpayers. Since 2013, TELUS has connected 125 communities in B.C., Alberta and eastern Quebec to the TELUS PureFibre network, and will have connected more than 50 Indigenous communities in B.C. and Alberta by the end of next year.“We are excited to welcome the arrival of TELUS’s new leading-edge fibre optic network that will transform communications technology for businesses and residents in Pitt Meadows,” said Mayor Bill Dingwall. “This $15 million investment will provide exceptional connectivity, speed and capacity needed for citizens to access broadband services in our increasingly connected world.”
The gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network is among the most advanced communications infrastructure available in the world today, giving residents dramatically fast Internet speeds up to a gigabit, while businesses, schools, healthcare providers and other institutions can access even more speed and capacity. The TELUS PureFibre network offers equally fast upload and download speeds, which provides significant benefits for applications like video conferencing, gaming, and home security. Supported by the TELUS PureFibre network, TELUS Smart Home Security offers 24/7 real-time monitoring and smart controls to manage cameras, lock and unlock doors, remotely manage indoor and outdoor lighting and even the thermostat.
This new fibre optic infrastructure will also be the backbone of TELUS’ wireless network, enabling more wireless capacity and faster speeds throughout the region, and lays the groundwork for 5G technologies in the years ahead. A reliable and fast wireless connection has become increasingly important as consumers use services like Babylon by TELUS Health, which is delivered through a free smartphone app. Babylon by TELUS Health empowers British Columbians to access virtual, video doctor appointments seven days a week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to align with families’ busy schedules. Users can take the video appointment from the comfort of their own home or office, and have prescriptions sent to a pharmacy near them. This is a huge step forward in the evolution of how Canadians, and particularly British Columbians, currently access healthcare.
A direct connection to the TELUS PureFibre network comes at no cost to taxpayers or residents, and TELUS plans to bring this critical network infrastructure to more communities in the years ahead. Residents can expect to see TELUS trucks throughout the community as construction begins, and TELUS representatives out knocking on their door to receive permission to connect their home to the network. Once homes are connected, residents can immediately begin taking advantage of dramatically faster and symmetrical Internet speeds.
This investment is part of TELUS’ commitment to invest $4.7 billion throughout British Columbia between 2017 and 2020, at no cost to taxpayers. For more information, please visit www.telus.com/pittmeadows.
About TELUS
About TELUS TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information technology company with $14.6 billion in annual revenue and 14.5 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security. We leverage our global-leading technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canada's largest healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers the most innovative business process solutions to some of the world’s most established brands.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all Canadians for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired our team members and retirees to contribute more than $700 million and 1.3 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.
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Liz Sauvé