VANCOUVER – Telus is spending $600 million over three years to enhance its broadband network in British Columbia, Alberta, and eastern Quebec, the company announced.
By installing advanced Internet equipment in more than 7,000 sites across its network, Telus will bring the fibre closer to homes, resulting in download speeds of 15 to 30 megabits per second and faster, the company says.
The $600 million will be invested from 2007 to 2009, in addition to the approximately $190 million that Telus is expected to spend in 2006 on upgrades that have already began. The enhancements will be concentrated in the company’s top 38 communities in those areas.
“Telus’ broadband build is an important investment in our future, and in the future of British Columbia, Alberta, and eastern Quebec,” said Darren Entwistle, Telus President and CEO. “It enables Telus to further unleash the power of the Internet for our customers, paving the way for exciting emerging services including high definition Telus TV.”
The upgrades are in addition to the company’s goal to bring high speed Internet to more than 450 remote communities in those three provinces by 2010. “Access to high speed Internet enriches the lives of rural Canadians by providing tremendous opportunities for economic development, education, health care, and other services. All Canadians benefit when more of our citizens have access to high speed Internet services and the knowledge-based economy,” Entwistle said.
“These projects will also benefit Telus team members through the creation of new and exciting career opportunities,” he said. “Telus is already in its second year of a three-year hiring program for 800 new technicians to meet customer demand for Telus TV in British Columbia and Alberta. Even more opportunities will be created as customer demand for emerging services continues to grow.”
Since it launched its high-speed Internet service in 1997, Telus has invested more than $1 billion in its wireline broadband network, it said.
The company noted that the announced upcoming upgrades do not affect its 2006 capital expenditure guidance and is consistent with its publicly stated targets.
