Work is underway to bring a state-of-the-art, fibre-optic network to Red Deer to provide faster and more reliable Internet service.
On Thursday, TELUS and F3 Networks announced that TELUS PureFibre services will soon be available to 90 per cent of homes in Red Deer thanks to a $168-million investment by F3 Networks.
To date, more than one million homes and businesses in Alberta have access to TELUS PureFibre, including over 120,000 in rural areas.
"Starting this May and continuing through the end of 2027, our municipality will be the site of a fibre network build out. This is a major infrastructure investment in the community," said Mayor Ken Johnston at the announcement held at the Kinsmen Community Arena.
"It will connect 31,000 homes across our community to high-speed Internet. I'm proud to say it will be done at no cost to homeowners. It won't cost the city any money either."
He said for every dollar of the $168 million, the return on investment to the community is $2.70, which is close to half a billion dollars.
"Just an amazing, amazing investment in our community," Johnston said.
He added that the project will support 240 full-time equivalent jobs, which means work for residents and economic spin-offs.
Unlike traditional copper lines, where download speeds outpace upload speeds, fibre-optic cables provide equally fast upload and download capabilities which benefit video conferencing, remote work, online education and telehealth.
It also levels the playing field so small businesses can compete globally, students can access more resources, and content creators can share their vision without compromise.
The project includes over 400,000 metres of fibre construction. In the coming weeks, residents and businesses can expect to see construction notices and communications from F3 Networks, the owner of the fibre-to-the-premise network, and AFL, the primary construction contractor.
Once the project is complete, TELUS will engage with newly connected residents and businesses to help them find the services that will best meet their needs.
Shazia Zeb Sobani, TELUS vice-president of Customer Solutions Delivery West, said about 10 per cent of homes and businesses in Red Deer already have TELUS PureFibre service, while the rest of the city is on broadband copper-based connectivity.
TELUS PureFibre is 85 per cent more energy efficient than copper, and more durable against extreme weather and environmental factors, making it a more sustainable and reliable technology.
She said the plan is to make TELUS PureFibre available for more than 50 per cent of the city this year, and the remainder next year.
"Whether you subscribe to TELUS services or not, we will still pull the fibre to your home, to your doorstep, in case you want to take advantage of it tomorrow. There is absolutely no cost and that's why we encourage every homeowner and every condo owner to take advantage of it and to have their property connected directly to the fibre."
The announcement was held in the Morrisroe area where the fibre network construction is already underway.
During the fibre-optic project, TELUS will also invest $10 million in its wireless infrastructure to use the fibre connectivity and enhance the coverage and capacity of the wireless network.
"We have 15 macro towers and 21 micro towers in the city. We're upgrading five of those this year and we are installing one brand new macro tower in the city, and we have four more on the books," Sobani said.
Jordan Young, president and CEO of F3 Networks, said his company saw an opportunity to build something meaningful and lasting in Red Deer.
"This is our largest fibre-optic network to date as an organization. We're proud to call Red Deer a flagship in our growing network and we're excited for what's ahead," Young said.
