Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Minister Andrew Wilkinson visited 100 Mile House on July 15.
At Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett’s constituency office, Wilkinson talked about Internet and cellular/mobile device connectivity improvements – past and future.
Wilkinson said the latest change that provided another avenue for remote businesses and residents is a new subsidy to cover 50 per cent (up to $250) for Xplornet satellite installations.
“There are a lot of areas in this province that are very hard to service because they are just too far from an available cable.”
He said these remote areas are not always in the far North or in extreme wilderness, but are quite close to municipalities, such as 100 Mile House. Sometimes these houses are even within sight of homes with cable service, and they still qualify for the subsidy.
This does not mean the province won’t endeavour to expand the cable lines out to rural customers, Wilkinson explained.
“We are trying to make sure that there is as much broadband in the province as possible. Our goal is to have everybody [covered] by 2021. We’ve got somewhere between 93 to 94 per cent of the population on broadband right now.”
He added his ministry is working with satellite providers for connectivity beyond the 98 per cent of locations where cable-carried service is feasible.
Local communities – especially in the Cariboo – also provide his ministry with regular requests for improved cellular service, Wilkinson noted.
“We have this large contractual arrangement with TELUS where we pay them a lot of money for our data and networks for all the provincial services like health care and education. Part of that package is we get to push at them to provide better cellular service.”
There is a quota of 1,700 kilometres that TELUS must provide with new cellular service, of which they are now at about 920 km, he said.
Wilkinson added some previously expanded local coverage includes Highway 24 from Little Fort to 100 Mile House, and all along Highway 97.
“Our goal is to continue to push [TELUS] on that last few hundred kilometres of entitlement we have to get proper cellular service in.”
After meeting with Interlakes Economic Association (IEA) president Dianne Lawson, he said more can be done for that community.
“The Interlakes area has fibre optic cable going through it between Little Fort and 100 Mile, and so the opportunity exists that we will push on TELUS to get better broadband service in the Interlakes region, which is currently dependant on satellite service and broadband.”
Barnett noted satellite services are “very expensive” for the business community.
Lawson said she emphasized the importance of hard-wire connections to attract new residents and businesses to her area.
“Our community profile data results will be key in making the business case, and the minister left us with the impression that this shouldn’t be difficult – to have fibre optics in our area soon – based on our initial discussion.”
Wilkinson said Internet access brings big benefits in transmitting health data and providing remote education learning capacity.
“With young people, they are not going to hang around a community that hasn’t got broadband….
“Our goal is to keep people feeling like they are totally connected to their communities and their society.”
