APRIL 14, 2021
TELUS investing $30 million to connect Lloydminster to the 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
Lloydminster, AB – TELUS is investing $30 million to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Lloydminster, Alberta, directly to its fibre optic network. Construction on the PureFibre network is already underway, and TELUS anticipates the majority of homes and businesses will be connected by the end of this year. Since 2013, TELUS has invested more than $5 billion to connect 137 communities and 56 First Nations across B.C., Alberta, and parts of Quebec to our PureFibre network. TELUS PureFibre was ready to withstand the additional demands of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly as the symmetrical upload and download speeds enable residents to work with large files at home while other family members can simultaneously be learning, streaming entertainment, or video chatting with friends. This TELUS PureFibre investment in Lloydminster, Alberta, coincides with a similar technology investment made by SaskTel in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
“TELUS is very proud to be making this generational investment in Lloydminster, 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. “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 and workers to benefit from the same Internet speeds, functionality, reliability and security that large enterprises currently enjoy. Indeed, in communities like Lloydminster, the advent of broadband networks, ubiquitously deployed, are bridging time and distance, allowing residents to live and work in the city without compromising productivity or economic opportunity. We look forward to connecting our fellow Albertans in Lloydminster 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.”
The gigabit-enabled TELUS PureFibre network is the largest 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) network in Western Canada, giving residents and businesses dramatically fast upload and download Internet speeds, which provides significant benefits for applications like video conferencing, working or learning remotely, gaming, and smart 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. For Canadians currently working from a home office, a PureFibre connection means upload speeds will not slow down the pace of business or lag during peak hours, and the rest of the family can simultaneously stream, play video games, and participate in online learning.
“Now, more than ever, our residents and businesses are looking to online technologies that support economic growth, relationships, entertainment and information sharing,” said Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers, City of Lloydminster. “The arrival of TELUS PureFibre broadband connectivity in Lloydminster strengthens our position as one of Western Canada’s most attractive communities in which to live and do business.”
Last year, TELUS announced a groundbreaking new tier of home Internet, setting a new benchmark for home and business Internet speeds in Western Canada. With blisteringly fast speeds clocking in at up to 1,500 Mbps download and up to 940 Mbps upload, the launch of TELUS PureFibre 1.5 Gigabit marked a substantial leap in available speeds for residents in B.C. and Alberta, both at home and in the workplace.
“The completion of a city-wide fibre-optic network in Lloydminster will have far-reaching benefits for both Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright. In this digital age, access to quality internet services are essential for large and small businesses to compete and succeed. Congratulations to TELUS, SaskTel and the City of Lloydminster on bringing this project to fruition.”
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. Once homes are connected, residents can immediately begin taking advantage of dramatically faster and symmetrical Internet speeds.
For more information, please visit telus.com/purefibre.