Telus will spend $103 million over the next three years to bring what's being called the fastest wireless technology in the world to northern B.C.
The company's president and CEO, Darren Entwistle, announced the plan to a hotel ballroom full of cheering employees and dignitaries on Thursday morning.
"By the end of this year, we will extend our 4G LTE wireless network to Prince George, empowering citizens here with the fastest and most advanced wireless technology in the world," Entwistle said.
According to Webopedia, the 4G LTE wireless communications standard can provide up to 10 times the speeds of its 3G predecessor for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and wireless hotspots.
"Notably, Telus is one of only five per cent of wireless carriers in the world to deploy 4G LTE technology," Entwistle said.
Of the $103 million, $60 million will be spent in Prince George and, in the process, 70 new employees will be added to the local Telus payroll this year, made up of customer service and operator services employees and service technicians.
That comes on top of the 400 Telus employees now working in Prince George, 150 of them hired as part of the $11-million expansion of its customer care centre last year.
The company also plans to add 3,000 more customers to its Optik TV subscriber base in Prince George, which would raise the total to 28,000.
"I can think of very few other communities so deserving of these investments," Entwistle said.
"Our team members in Prince George are renowned for their passion as brand ambassadors for our world-leading technology and services.
"We have offered three friends and family referral programs in this community and each time we set the bar, the Prince George team smashed it.
"Their extraordinary passion and commitment have resulted in nearly 4,000 new customer activations for smartphones, Telus satellite and Optik TV."
Beyond city limits, Entwistle said the work, consisting largely of upgrades to cell towers and installation of new ones, will deliver broadband Internet to such remote communities as Cluculz Lake, Kitwanga, Hansard and Reid Lake for the first time.
The work will also extend wireless coverage along area highways, Entwistle added, improving safety for the travelling public.
Entwistle went on to emphasize the company's good works campaigns.
Local Canadian Cancer Society representatives were presented with a giant cheque for $373,400 for construction of the Kordyban Lodge, which Entwistle promptly raised to $400,000 with a felt marker.
And he said the Skylab multi-media learning environment at the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library will be the target of the next TV for Good campaign, which donates a portion of proceeds from Telus products to community works.
The campaign had previously raised $144,500 for the Cameron Street Replica Bridge at Cottonwood Island Park.
