VANCOUVER — Telus today released its 2020 Indigenous Connectivity Report, which outlines the benefits of partnerships between the company and Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia.
The report also provides an update on the investment Telus has made to bring connectivity to Indigenous communities and the current reach of its network. In partnership with Indigenous governments, the telecom has made high-speed Internet available to approximately 18,500 homes, businesses and community hubs.
To date, more than $25 million has been invested to connect Indigenous communities in B.C. to Telus’ PureFibre network, including enhanced wireline and wireless connectivity, says the company.
Among the report’s highlighted numbers are the following:
- 178 Indigenous communities served by Telus
- 56 Indigenous communities connected to Telus PureFibre
- 87 Indigenous lands (reserves, treaty lands and self-governed lands) connected to Telus PureFibre
- 128 Indigenous communities and 430 Indigenous lands connected to Telus’ wireless high-speed Internet networks
Expanding the Indigenous communities’ access to high-speed Internet has enabled everything from language revitalization and enhanced healthcare outcomes to economic development and job creation, as highlighted in the report.
“Meaningful engagement and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples can only happen within the framework of inclusive dialogue, collaboration, and partnership,” said Tony Geheran, executive vice-president and chief customer officer for Telus, in a press release. “We are proud of the strong, meaningful, and collaborative relationships we have built with Indigenous Peoples and governments to bring world-leading connectivity to more Indigenous communities, while supporting their long-term goals and demonstrating Telus’ commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.”
Telus partners with Indigenous, federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as partners such as the All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO), the Pathways to Technology project, and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) to extend technology which can be life-changing into Indigenous communities, says the company’s press release.
In 2019, with funding from Pathways to Technology, Telus PureFibre was extended to the Esk’etemc and Xatśūll First Nations in central B.C. For the Esk’etemc First Nation, their recently expanded network will allow for cultural preservation and expanded commerce for local businesses, and vastly improves how the Nation’s government communicates with membership, says the release.
“PureFibre has allowed us to download and pass information much faster in the community,” said Patricia Chelsea, managing director of Esk’etemc, in the Telus release. “Video calls on Zoom and other video platforms are totally new for us, something that wasn’t possible before. It is a valuable asset for us.”
“We’ve changed our community from a bit of a digital desert to a growing connected community. We’ve been able to launch our own information technology business and have had the capacity to continue to do business during the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Xatśūll Chief Sherri Sellars. “It has also greatly enhanced our ability to connect with members and them with us. Furthermore, we’re currently working to improve the online visibility of our businesses which would have been challenging without high-speed Internet.”
For more information, please click here. The full report is available here.
