VANCOUVER – Telus announced this week it will invest $800,000 to launch mobile phone service to four small coastal B.C. communities in the coming months.
The company is upgrading existing central switching offices with state-of-the-art cellular network and transmission equipment in Port Edward, Hartley Bay, Klemtu, and Oona River. The sites will provide PCS cellular and wireless data services such as text messaging and Internet access to each community. Similar upgrades were just completed to bring mobile phone service to the Queen Charlotte Islands, Bella Bella, and Bella Coola.
“By adding cellular network equipment to existing Telus landline sites we are able to extend wireless service to small communities along British Columbia’s mid-coast that would otherwise be prohibitively costly to serve,” said Shaun Greffard, Telus general manager for Interior North, in the press release. “Telus is dedicated to bringing all our customers the best possible telecommunications service, whether in metropolitan centres or rural communities.”
Greffard added that this project complements ongoing $500,000 enhancements to wireless coverage along the Prince George-Prince Rupert highway and the $110 million Connecting Communities investment that will bring broadband Internet facilities to 119 rural B.C. communities by the end of this year.
The company will connect Port Edward later this year, Hartley Bay, Klemtu, and Oona River in 2007.
