Courtesy: Town of High Level
Telus high-speed internet upgrades coming to High Level in 2023
After years of effort by the Town of High Level Council to push for expanded internet service in their community, it is finally happening.
The Town of High Level has received confirmation from Telus it will begin upgrades to its existing copper network, which will include fibre optic lines. This will be a multi-year utility upgrade. TELUS and the Town are working together to coordinate ongoing municipal operations as well as access to municipal rights-of-way.
“Access to reliable high speed internet is vital in today’s world, and in many places, it is considered a basic human right,” said Mayor Crystal McAteer. “Too often, northern communities struggle with these necessities. Council has worked extremely hard to ensure access to high speed internet for High Level, and I am so proud that we are going to see that hard work pay off in 2023.
“This is going to profoundly change life in High Level for the better, and it cements our community’s reputation as the hub for healthcare, government, industry, and commerce in
northwestern Alberta. We sincerely thank Telus for the opportunity to connect High Level to the rest of the world in real time.”
TELUS will contact residents and property owners directly if/when access to private property is needed.
As the hub for government, healthcare, transportation, industry, and commerce in northwest Alberta, reliable, high-speed internet is critical for High Level to continue to provide those vital services to the region and to continue to be the destination of choice for business, commerce, and industry.
In terms of local social and economic benefits, the addition of dependable, high-speed internet is foundational for the future success and growth of High Level. Innovation will become part of the permanent lexicon of High Level as the world moves into the types of technologies once only dreamed of by science fiction writers: the Internet of Things,
Smart Cities, Virtual Reality, and Robotics.
“Telus is very prepared for this community-wide upgrade and has been excellent to work with so far,” said Hayley Gavin, Director of Planning and Development. “The Town will be working closely with Telus on the planning and installation stages of this upgrade. The work will be completed in stages to minimize disruption to community residents, businesses, and events.
“The Town of High Level Council and Administration look forward to playing an integral role in Telus bringing these upgrades to the community of High Level.”
The process of bringing fibre to the community is a complicated one with many stages. The Town of High Level will provide updates to the community as they become available, and residents are encouraged to watch their mailboxes for updates and engagement opportunities from Telus and the Town as they move forward on this exciting opportunity. Telus will reach out to residents regarding possible changes or expansion of service offerings.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
