CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – The $45.4 million Connected Coast project begins construction in the Strait of Georgia this week. The undersea fibre optic cable project starts off Gabriola Island and will move north to Campbell River and the Discovery Islands over the next few weeks. Construction will also include 26 landing sites where the cable comes ashore. These sites will provide the necessary infrastructure for Internet Service Providers to connect businesses and households with high-speed internet.
“High-speed internet is essential to daily life in our increasingly digitized world, and people need access to it to participate and thrive in today’s economy,” said Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum. “I’m excited for more people and business along the Salish Sea to benefit from the range of opportunities unlocked through high-speed connectivity in this region.”
Construction of the 3,400 km project began this past winter in the north near Prince Rupert and progressed down to Bella Coola. More than 600 km of cable has been laid along with 21 landing sites constructed in rural, remote and First Nation communities. An important project milestone took place earlier this month, when the fibre optic cable was laid across the Hecate Strait bringing a connection to Haida Gwaii,
“We are excited to see the construction momentum of the Connected Coast network. We look forward to bringing connectivity to rural and remote coastal communities, allowing them the same digital opportunities as urban centres. High-speed internet will help re-invent our small communities and improve our ability to participate in education, e-commerce, and health programs” said Brad Unger, chair of the Strathcona Regional District.
