DENMAN ISLAND – CityWest announced yesterday it has kicked off its fibre-to-the-home construction project on Denman Island, with plans for Hornby Island to follow.
“This week, construction crews will begin building this state-of-the-art and future proof underground fibre-optic network, which will provide world class urban style connectivity for decades to come,” a press release says.
The last-mile project, valued at $7.6 million, is being completed by CityWest in partnership with the Government of B.C. and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD). The B.C. government provided $5.6 million for this project through the Connecting British Columbia program. (The funding was announced last August.)
As part of the partnership, a portion of Internet, TV and phone service profits will go back into the CVRD “for grants and other forms of assistance that benefits residents and community organizations,” the press release explains.
Additionally, the partnership means the community will have “a direct say in the level and types of services they will receive going forward.
Once complete, the fibre-optic infrastructure will be tied into the Connected Coast network, a partnership between CityWest and the Strathcona Regional District that is being financed by the federal and B.C. governments.
“The Connected Coast will provide backbone communication services to the islands, as well as 137 other rural and remote communities, including 48 Indigenous communities – representing 44 First Nations – along the BC Coast from Prince Rupert, to Haida Gwaii, south to Vancouver, and around Vancouver Island,” the press release explains.
“The Comox Valley Regional District is thrilled about this partnership agreement with CityWest,” said Daniel Arbour, area director for the CVRD, in the release. “Not only will residents on Denman and Hornby Islands get faster, more reliable Internet services, but will also see a direct financial benefit for our communities. After many months of planning, it’s exciting to see this project’s construction phase begin.”
“We are very excited about this project because it’s more than a partnership – it’s an opportunity for the communities of Denman and Hornby Island to own their connectivity destiny for many years into the future,” said Stefan Woloszyn, CEO of CityWest. “As a company that was built in rural B.C., we’re proud to have this opportunity to serve you with the connectivity solutions you have been asking for.”
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