In an effort to provide increased Internet speeds and provide an Internet-based television service in the area, Telus is spending $3 million to bring fibre optic cables to Summerland.
The gigabit passive optical network technology offers Internet speeds up to 50 megabits per second.
This allows for faster Internet speeds and also gives Summerlanders access to Telus’s Optik TV service.
“Telus’s $3 million investment means businesses and consumers right here in Summerland will be directly wired to fibre optics, the most advanced communications infrastructure in the world,” said Steve Jenkins, Telus general manager for southern British Columbia.
“This means access to the fastest Internet speed TELUS offers as well as our Internet-based TV service, Optik TV, giving you real choice in your TV service for the first time.”
Shawn Hall of Telus media relations said the upgrade will not result in any significant disruption of service.
For telephone customers, the change will not be noticeable, but for those using Internet or looking to the television service, the improvements will be dramatic.
“We’re trying to build a most compelling television service,” he said.
Those already on a high-speed Internet plan through Telus may notice increases in the speed of their service.
They will also be able to upgrade to faster service plans than have been available previously.
The Summerland upgrade is part of a three year, $3 billion project by Telus in B.C.