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Telus beefs up northwestern BC cell service

Communications on highway between Terrace and Prince Rupert to be improved

TELUS is spending $450,000 to bring cellular service to 14 kilometres of Hwy16 between Prince Rupert and Terrace, part of a massive 10-year contract the company has to provide telecommunications services to the province and its agencies.

The section to be covered is 60 kilometres east of Prince Rupert and should be live in weeks, a company press release indicated this morning.

Telus won the bid for the contract to provide a variety of services to the province in 2011 following three years of negotiations.

It's very challenging terrain we're dealing with, which is why the investment is so significant,” said Telus official Liz Sauve of the money being spent along Hwy16.

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.

And that is our main purpose, to improve communications along the highway for 911,” she said.

The 10-year deal between Telus and the province calls for cellular service introduction along 1,700 kilometres of roads within BC.