Faster internet speeds are on their way to rural areas in the South Cariboo.
The B.C. government, through the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the Connecting British Columbia program has invested $310,971 in a new connectivity project that will be undertaken by ABC Communications.
ABC will match the government funding, for a total investment of $621,942.
The upgrades will service 2,700 rural households and businesses in 100 Mile House, Lone Butte, Gateway, Canim Lake, Sheridan Lake, Interlakes and Horse Lake with tech upgrades and network coverage.
With the upgrades, ABC will offer internet service packages with speeds from 3 Mbps to 15 Mbps. The systems will be scalable to speeds of 50 Mbps as the network evolves.
Currently, a basic package by ABC offers speeds of 1.5 Mbps, although higher speeds are available.
"In today's interconnected world, the internet has become an integral part of daily life, which is why we are upgrading high-speed internet in the north through newer technology," says Bob Allen, ABC Communications CEO. "Thanks to this provincial funding, we can expand on our existing services and invest in the future of 100 Mile House and neighbouring communities."