Backgrounder: Governments of Canada and British Columbia to bring high-speed Internet access to communities in British Columbia
Backgrounder
On June 13, 2024, the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable George Chow, British Columbia's Minister of Citizens' Services, announced over $37 million in combined federal and provincial funding to bring high-speed Internet access to over 1,900 underserved households in rural and remote communities across British Columbia. This includes 54 Indigenous households.
Here is an overview of British Columbia's connectivity status:
- In 2017, 92.3% of British Columbia was connected to high-speed Internet (50/10 Mbps+)
- Currently, 95.2% of British Columbia is connected to high-speed Internet (50/10 Mbps+)
- In 2026, 97.1% of British Columbia is projected to be connected to high-speed Internet (50/10 Mbps+)
The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are not specifically co-funded with British Columbia but are still part of the memorandum of understanding between the governments of Canada and British Columbia are as follows:
| Internet service provider | Federal funding only | Number of households to be covered | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBF-01132 TELUS Communications Company | $6,933,590 | 522 | Big Lake Ranch, Horsefly | Fibre | March 2026 |
The communities that will benefit from improved Internet speeds thanks to projects that are co-funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia are as follows:
| Internet service provider | Combined federal and provincial funding | Number of households to be covered | Communities to benefit | Technology | Estimated completion date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCBC-010016 TELUS Communications Company | $30,679,996 | 1,454, of which 54 are Indigenous | Alkali Lake (Esk'etemc), Lac la Hache, Williams Lake, Mahood Falls, McLeese Lake, Wildwood, 150 Mile House, 108 Mile Ranch, Bridge Lake, Nazko | Fibre, fixed wireless | December 2026 |
Page details
- Date modified: