Both Denman Island and Hornby Island will soon have a faster internet connection.
According to a media release from the province, more than 1,350 households on both islands will see improved high-speed internet.
The project is being supported by the Connecting British Columbia program.
“We are moving toward a future where people in communities up and down the coast have the same level of internet services being offered in urban centres like Vancouver and Victoria,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services.
“Upgrading the networks on Hornby and Denman will boost the performance of internet access this year and prepare the islands to be connected to the high-performance Connected Coast network.”
CityWest will receive up to $3.26 million from the program to upgrade services on Denman Island and up to $2.38 million for its work on Hornby Island.
The $45.4-million project, jointly funded by both the provincial and federal governments, is centered on the construction of a subsea fibre-optic network in the Strathcona Regional District. It’ll include access points along BC’s coastline between Vancouver and Prince Rupert, to Haida Gwaii, and around Vancouver Island.
Health care is also expected to improve once the projects are complete.
“Our staff often work in isolation in empty or marginal pockets of internet and cellular reception,” said Lori Nawrot, executive director of the Hornby and Denman Community Health Care Society.
“Improved service will make our jobs safer and expand our options for online training and certification, crucial for the recruitment of new staff,” added Nawrot.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and will include stops on the Gulf Islands, however, no timeline was provided on when the internet improvement projects would be completed for Denman Island and Hornby Island.
