“A Game Changer” has been provided to the Bella Coola Valley as the Province wraps up a big step in its provincial connectivity goals.
Over 800 households and businesses in the Nuxalk Nation, Bella Coola, and Hagensborg have gained high-speed internet access through CityWest providers.
This work was done with the Connecting British Columbia Program, managed by Northern Development Trust. The Central Coast Communications Society also contributed to helping the Hagensborg services.
“We are happy that we have completed this step in our project,” says Minister of Citizen’s Services George Chow. “Our government’s objective is to connect all of B.C. by 2027. We are definitely going to meet that target.”
Minister Chow says at the start of 2022, the government had over 115,000 underserved households that needed to be connected with “modern-day” broadband services. To date, with the Bella Coola Valley households included, the province has only 80,300 left.
“There’s some work to be done… It’s certainly important because the rural and Indigenous communities’ economic development, healthcare, education, and tourism, especially in the region, all depend on reliable high-speed internet connections.”
The Ministry says it is conducting research for the next phases and projects to connect rural communities in British Columbia with Northern Development Trust. Cellular Towers along the Central and North Coastlines are being considered as part of the next major phases.
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