TELUS is investing half a million dollars to bring 4GLTE wireless Internet and telecommunication services to customers in the north, including Masset.
In a conversation with The Northern View, TELUS representative Liz Sauve explained that the company has just begun its commitment to Northern B.C. and Haida Gwaii residents will feel the benefits quite soon.
"We're updating our older infrastructure, we're bringing LTE (Long Term Evolution), and for customers, essentially the bottom line is it means that they're going to have faster wireless speeds that are a lot more reliable," said Sauve.
Anyone in the area with a 4G network-capable smartphone (which is most on the market) will be able to take advantage of the new infrastructure, and they won't need to upgrade their phone in any way as the device will locate the signal automatically.
"We don't have specific dates for the upgrade just yet, but they will be completed by the end of the year, so for sure within the next six months," added Sauve.
Skeena — Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen said anything to improve ease of access to information is welcome.
"We still have a lot of communities on Highway 16 that are on dial-up, and you start using dial-up and interacting with your bank or federal government website, it's less than useless," he said.
Along with the updated site on Masset, TELUS will be looking to partner with CityWest.
"In Prince Rupert, down the line, we're going to be working with CityWest so people can bundle their TV services with their home phone," said Sauve.
The TELUS rep also added that 11 sites along Highway 16 will be upgraded along various points in Northern B.C. as part of TELUS's capital investment in the north.