High-speed internet coming to Upper Nicola

MERRITT – The Upper Nicola Band is one of six Indigenous communities getting access to high-speed internet.

“We are focused on working closely with communities to fund projects that meet their connectivity needs and we are committed to connecting every rural, remote and Indigenous community in B.C. by 2027,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “This project is another step toward meeting that commitment and meeting Action 4.36 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan to ensure that every First Nations community in B.C. has access to high-speed internet services.”

Officals said consturction has started on a fibre-to-the-home project that will bring high=speed internet to more than 500 households in: Upper Nicola Band, Cook’s Ferry Indian Band, Kloklowuck, Sqwá First Nation’s, Skwali, and Squamish Nation’s Cheakamus.

“Upper Nicola Band appreciates the opportunity to have Telus PureFibre in our community,” said Collette Sunday, Band Administrator of the Upper Nicola Band. “That will allow for our members to have high-quality access to the World Wide Web for their personal needs, as well this will assist us to have quality service for our community centre that we are currently planning. Finally, the Telus Pure Fibre will service economic development projects that are currently under development in our community.”

In March 2022, the Province announced an agreement with the federal government to provide up to $830 million to expand high-speed internet services to connect all rural and First Nations households.

According to the government, they have invested as much as $2.9 million through the Connecting British Columbia funding program. Telus Communications Inc. has also invested another $1.3 million to build new fibre-to-the-home infrastructure.

“Telus is committed to ensuring everyone can thrive in our digital world, no matter where they live,” said Shazia Zeb Sobani, vice-president of Customer Network Implementation at Telus. “We are proud to work alongside Indigenous governments and the Government of British Columbia to connect an additional 624 households and businesses on eight Indigenous lands to our Pure Fibre network. This is part of our ongoing commitment to enable rural and Indigenous communities with the speeds and coverage they need to connect to the people and information that matter the most, operate businesses locally and compete globally, and access online services, like health care and education, from the comfort of home. We look forward to continuing to work alongside Indigenous governments on what is important to them in 2023 and beyond.”

Construction on this project is expected to start in early spring and be completed by August 2023.