TELUS spent $1 million in the area this year improving wireless service along Hwy16 and Hwy37.
It covered one project which added wireless coverage to about 15 kilometres of Hwy16 between Terrace and Prince Rupert while another project added wireless coverage to about 40 kilometres of highway from South Hazelton toward Kitwanga.
“The site is located near the Highway 37 junction and therefore maximizes coverage to both Highway 37 and Highway 16. Because of its location, the coverage stretches to residents in Kitwanga and certain parts of Cedarvale,” explained Liz Sauve from Telus of the second project.
These two projects, along with one expanded wireless coverage on Hwy16 between Prince George and McBride, resulted in a total cost of $2.5 million, she said.
“This is a particularly challenging highway to serve, due to the remote location and challenging terrain that our engineers must work with in planning how to maximize coverage where it is needed,” Sauve said of the Hwy16 corridor.
The projects fall under a 10-year contract the provincial government has with Telus to extend wireless coverage along 1,700 kilometres of highway in the province.
Bell customers who “roam” on the Telus service will also have full access along that stretch of highway.
But Rogers customers won’t except in case of an emergency, said Sauve.
“Those on another network will still have the ability to make emergency calls, meaning all travelers, regardless of service provider, now have crucial access to 911 emergency services,” she said.
Telus, as part of its own separate projects, made improvements to its landline network in and around Cedarvale this year.
It also did work to improves its network between Lakelse Lake and Terrace.