TELUS unveiled plans to invest $1 billion to connect the majority of homes and businesses in the City of Vancouver directly to the fibre network over the next five years.
The first installations are expected by early next year. TELUS’ new fibre rollout will also be the backbone of the company’s wireless network, enabling even more wireless capacity and speed. Once complete, the rollout will add more than 400,000 homes, businesses, hospitals, community centres and municipal offices to the TELUS fibre network.
TELUS said this significant commitment is part of its plan to invest an additional $4 billion in British Columbia through 2018. When combined with operational expenses, this will bring the total TELUS investment in British Columbia over the next four years to more than $11.5 billion.
“Bringing fibre optic infrastructure directly to homes and businesses is a generational investment, and the most significant contribution our organization can make to propel Canada’s communications infrastructure and ensure its global competitiveness for decades to come,” said Darren Entwistle, TELUS President and CEO. “With more than half of the world’s population currently concentrated in urban centres, and increased urbanisation a reality for the future, cities with the capacity to leverage advanced broadband technology will enjoy an unprecedented advantage. Our $1 billion investment will provide one of Canada’s largest urban centres with ubiquitous access to the fastest and most reliable Internet services to dramatically improve the way Vancouverites live, work and socialise.”
