VANCOUVER — Telus today announced the launch of its Internet for Good for Seniors program, which provides low-income seniors in British Columbia and Alberta receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) with access to Internet service starting at $9.95 a month.
Eligible seniors can choose between two plans: Internet 25 with speeds up to 25 Mbps for $9.95 per month, or Internet 50 with speeds up to 50 Mbps for $19.95 per month. Both plans provide unlimited data.
Internet for Good for Seniors is an expansion of Telus’s Internet for Good program, which was first launched in 2016 and is currently available to more than 400,000 low-income families and people with disabilities as well as youth leaving care in B.C. and Alberta.
With today’s announcement, Telus is offering an additional 415,000 eligible low-income seniors in B.C. and Alberta access to low-cost, high-speed Internet. The program expansion also complements Telus’s existing Mobility for Good for Seniors program, which provides low-income seniors with a subsidized wireless plan and access to a discounted smartphone.
“Throughout the pandemic, our global-leading network has enabled Canadians to work and learn remotely, access critical government resources, receive medical support and stay in touch with family and friends,” said Darren Entwistle, Telus president and CEO, in a press release.
“Our country’s seniors have contributed significantly to the fabric of this nation, having built and supported the infrastructure, economy and social services that we enjoy today. Disconcertingly, these same aging Canadians have been disproportionately impacted throughout the health emergency system as many do not have the means to stay connected to loved ones and support networks in order to stay safe.
“Through Internet for Good for Seniors we are providing some of our most vulnerable Canadians with access to the vital tools and resources they need to stay safely and meaningfully connected,” Entwistle said.
Eligible seniors can apply for Internet for Good online at telus.com/InternetForGoodSeniors, where they will need to provide a copy of their Old Age Security T4A that identifies them as a GIS recipient.
Existing Telus customers who enroll in the Internet for Good program will have their monthly bill lowered to $9.95 or $19.95, depending on the plan selected, the press release says.
“The 411 Seniors Centre Society is very supportive of this community-minded program from Telus which will reduce the digital divide that many of our members on the GIS experience,” said David Handelman, board member of the 411 Seniors Centre Society, in the release.
“Our current membership is over 600 and at least 200 of our members do not have Internet access because they cannot afford it. The affordable monthly cost starting at $9.95 will ensure that all of our members who want Internet at home will have the means to access it. We are confident that this program will improve our members’ lives by giving them access to services and information, and by helping them strengthen their social connections.”
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