Some Black Diamond and Turner Valley neighbourhoods could be hooked up to fibre optic Internet as early as this spring.
Work is expected to begin equipping both towns with Telus’ advanced broadband system once the ground thaws.
Telus has committed $9 million to bring its Pure Fibre network to Black Diamond and Turner Valley throughout the year.
It’s part of Telus’s $4.2 billion investment to bring new infrastructure and facilities to various Alberta communities over the next few years, said Anthony Barnfather, Telus general manager for Calgary South, during a launch event in Black Diamond’s municipal centre March 13.
“It’s going to do a great deal to increase property values and boost the local economy and support technical demands for generations to come,” said Barnfather.
“The 150 megabyte per second speed connection allows people to download high-definition movies or upload 100 high res pictures in a matter of seconds and that’s just the beginning. The network will be equipped to keep up with the quick pace of technology and large connections.”
Barnfather said Black Diamond and Turner Valley will be among the most connected communities in North America and that putting in the infrastructure will not cost Towns, residents or businesses.
The new infrastructure will help diversify the economy, create jobs and retail skilled workers, he said.
“Telus Pure Fibre is going to be a key way for Black Diamond and Turner Valley to promote themselves as a great place to work and live,” he said.
Barnfather said Telus gigabyte Internet will be nearly seven times faster than what’s available to residents today.
“Sharing information in the form of photos and videos will be higher than ever,” he said. “There are huge benefits like video conferencing, gaming, home security, connected homes, retail and health care diagnostics.”
The network will also provide the backbone for Telus’s 5G wireless network, he said.
“New products will be available soon and you guys are going to be the first to hear about it.”
When construction begins on the network in the coming weeks, fibre will be installed in clusters of about 300 to 400 homes at a time, said Michael Dorland, director of planning and engineering. Once those homes and businesses are serviced, workers will move to another section, he said.
Telus employees will send out information in the mail in both communities next week and representatives will soon go door-to-door asking permission to run fibre to people’s homes and businesses, Dorland said.
Dorland said Telus aims to connect every home and business with Pure Fibre.
“We say there’s a 10 per cent variability because there are some farmhouses down the road that feel like they’re part of Turner Valley or Black Diamond and it’s not economically feasible to get fibre to those,” he said. “Our goal is to nail everybody within that central region area. It’s the outliers that we aren’t necessarily going to get to.”
If residents in outlying areas are interested in fibre, Dorland said Telus is willing to work with them.
Black Diamond Mayor Ruth Goodwin said she is excited that both towns will be hooked up to fibre rather than its existing slower-speed cable connections.
“I’ve been reading quite a bit on Facebook with concerns people have had in the past about the lack of availability of uploading and downloading,” she said. “I understand the significance of the type of fibre we are going to be provided with.”
Turner Valley Mayor Gary Rowntree said past council and administration in both communities have been working hard to get high-speed Internet to businesses and residents and he’s glad to see that come to fruition this year.
“Telus not only meets our joint collaboration commitments, but it also brings both the service and infrastructure required to provide a reliable and seamless service to the community,” he said. “We can now provide our residents an opportunity to truly live, work and play in the high country.”
Telus will track the progress in both towns at www.telus.ca/purefibre once work begins.
