High-speed internet is coming to remote areas in the Capital Regional District.
Ottawa plans to invest $34 million of the $45.4-million needed to build 3.5 million metres of sub-sea fibre optic cable along the B.C. coast, and the remaining $11.4 million will come from the province.
CRD Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks said he’s excited about the announcement, but is hesitant because the project is still in preliminary stages and there could be some challenges.
He explained that once all the cables are put in place by the government, it is up to local internet providers to get people hooked up to it, and he is unsure if companies like Telus or Shaw would be interested in taking on cables that aren’t theirs.
Should the project follow through as planned, internet speed will reach the T’Souke Nation, Sooke, Port Renfrew, Jordan River, the Pacheedaht First Nation, Beecher Bay, Shirley, and multiple communities throughout B.C..
“I am blown away,” said Hicks. “This is potentially one of the greatest announcements that I’ve seen in my time in the Juan de Fuca area.”
Hicks said he has been advocating to get high-speed internet and cell service out to remote communities in the CRD area for some time, saying a lot of them still use dial-up dnternet, which isn’t suitable for the times.
He believes the high internet speed will bring multiple advantages to the CRD, for both locals and tourists.
“For tourism, people will be able to navigate where they are better, or find resources around them like hotels and restaurants. For the local people, this will bring them up to modern times,” said Hicks.
“It’s great for businesses and more people can work from home. Schools will have better internet access for learning programs. This will probably make people more likely to move to remote places like Port Renfrew, and maybe bring some more kids to the school.”
B.C. Minister of Citizens’ Services Jinny Sims said the internet speeds will be “comparable to cities like Vancouver” and that faster internet is as important to the economy today as the railroad was in the 19th century.
“For safety, for convenience, right down to the fact that kids will be able to watch Netflix, this is just absolutely beautiful,” said Hicks. “It give so many opportunities and make our area equal with the rest of Canada. I am on top of the world.”