TELUS investing $43 million to connect Stony Plain 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
Stony Plain, AB – TELUS is investing $43 million to connect homes and businesses in Stony Plain directly to our fibre optic network. This investment is part of TELUS’ recently announced commitment to invest $14.5 billion in infrastructure and operations across Alberta through 2024 to further support the province throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recovery. Work on the PureFibre network in Stony Plain is expected to start in September, and TELUS anticipates the majority of homes and businesses will be connected by the end of 2023. PureFibre with its symmetrical upload and download speeds was ready to withstand the additional demands of the Covid-19 pandemic, supporting more than two million Albertans as they adapted to new ways of living, enabling people to work with large files at home while other family members could simultaneously be participating in virtual school, virtually connecting with healthcare practitioners, or staying socially connected.
“TELUS is very proud to be making this generational investment in Stony Plain, 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. We look forward to connecting our fellow Albertans in Stony Plain 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.”
Last month, TELUS was named the fastest Internet service provider (ISP) in Canada by New York-based PCMag for the second consecutive year. 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.
“This is an exciting development for our community that comes with a range of benefits. Whether using the Internet to stay connected to friends and family or accessing vital programs and services, residents rely on the Internet to meet their everyday needs. For our business community, being connected to a reliable Internet network is essential for professional development and keeping up with a highly competitive digital business environment,” says William Choy, Mayor of Stony Plain.
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.
“This investment will create many jobs, and projects like these, where a true Alberta company like TELUS steps up, is the type of private sector investment this government is facilitating,” said Searle Turton, MLA for Spruce Grove-Stony Plain. “All the residents and businesses in Stony Plain will now have access to the fastest internet speeds. Coming out of the pandemic, now we see more-and-more people are working from home, and our entrepreneurs expect their internet to keep up with the speed in which they do business. It’s great to know that no matter where you live in the constituency, you have access to the fastest speeds. This adds to the endless list of why the riding of Spruce Grove-Stony Plain, in my humble opinion, the best place to work and play!”
TELUS is also supporting small businesses through its second national #StandWithOwners initiative, investing $1 million to promote these vitally important organizations in 2021. Small business owners have demonstrated incredible strength and ingenuity as they pivoted and innovated throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and TELUS is proudly supporting them with funding, localized advertising, and mentorship as they move forward. To apply, businesses can visit telus.com/standwithowners.
Since 2000, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $165 million and 2.96 million volunteer hours to charities and community organizations located in Alberta.
These investments build upon TELUS’ continued commitment to bring world-leading connectivity to communities across the province, providing the technological backbone for Alberta’s economic recovery and strength well into the future. Since 2000, TELUS has invested nearly $240 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $51 billion in technology and operations in Alberta.
The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2021, released in the fourth quarter of 2020 earnings release dated February 11, 2021.
For more information, please visit telus.com/purefibre.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion 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. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Chelsey Rajzer
TELUS Public Relations