Revelstoke railroaders overnighting in Field are now enjoying cell phone service in the small East Kootenay community.
Telus spokesperson Shawn Hall said the new $350,000 wireless site provides 4G wireless voice and high speed Internet to the community and the nearby stretch of Highway 1.
“At TELUS, we know how important wireless services are, and we continue to make significant investments in our networks to extend service to ever more B.C. communities and highways,” said Steve Jenkins, TELUS general manager for the Southern Interior. “This new wireless site in Field connects this community and several kilometres of highway for the first time, providing an important link for area residents and businesses as well as life-saving connection to 911 service.”
In a statement, TELUS said the project is a result of the 10-year Connecting British Columbia agreement signed with the Province of B.C. last year. Under the terms of the contract TELUS will connect more than 1,700 kilometres of highway with wireless service over five years and run fibre optic cable directly to nearly 450 B.C. schools.
“This is great news for families, businesses and people travelling in the Field area,” said Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government Minister Margaret MacDiarmid in a media release. “By working together, we’re making progress on expanding wireless coverage and providing much-needed new cellular coverage along our highways.”
Telus said the new tower is part of $3 billion in investments in similar infrastructure across B.C. in the next three years.