Tahltan Communications – a partnership between Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) and CityWest Cable and Telephone Corporation – is pleased to announce an approved funding application - through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) Broadband Fund - to construct approximately 250 kilometres of new transport fibre infrastructure, connecting Dease Lake to the communities of Jade City and Good Hope Lake (Dease River) in British Columbia, as well as Upper Liard in the Yukon.
In 2019, the CRTC launched the ‘Broadband Fund’ to help connect rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada. To date, the fund has improved high-speed Internet and cellphone service in over 270 communities, connecting essential institutions such as schools, health care facilities, and community centers.
“Having already built over 200 kilometres of fibre optic cable north along Highway 37 to Dease Lake, Tahltan Communication is pleased to be able to extend this fibre optic network beyond Dease Lake along Highway 37 to Jade City and Good Hope Lake (Dease River) and Upper Liard in the Yukon. TNDC is excited this expansion aims to benefit the Dease River First Nation and the Liard First Nation by offering improved virtual meetings, enhanced access to telemedicine for healthcare, and enriched educational opportunities through high-speed fibre optics, bringing the same benefits the Tahltan Nation currently enjoys." Todd den Engelsen, CEO of TNDC
“This project means faster, more reliable connectivity for the people who live and work in some of the most remote areas of western Canada. It also marks another milestone for CityWest as we expand our network across the Yukon border. CityWest has been working with TNDC for several years, building out fibre-optic infrastructure in the Tahltan region to greatly improve connectivity. Our companies share the same set of primary values, and we look forward to working with TNDC for years to come.” Stefan Woloszyn, CEO of CityWest
"I am pleased that our Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, through Tahltan Communications, is uniting communities across Northwest BC and Yukon with high-speed fibre optic connections, empowering our region with the transformative power of connectivity." President Beverly Slater, Tahltan Central Government
“While most people in Canada take high-speed internet for granted, the high-speed connectivity that our remote community now enjoys via Tahltan Communications is a game-changer, transforming the way we access services like virtual health and virtual education.” Chief Marie Quock, Iskut Band
"With Tahltan Communications' high-speed fibre optic, our communities are not just being connected for convenience but for resilience. This important project ensures that even in the face of natural disasters or emergencies, our people remain connected, supported, and safe in times of need." Chief Richard (Rocky) Jackson, Tahltan Band
Tahltan Communications has already built over 200 kilometres of new fibre optic cable to provide high speed fibre optic-based telecommunication services to schools, health centers, homes and the many small, medium and large industrial businesses in Tahltan Territory.
This state-of-the-art fibre-optic network brings significant benefits to Tahltan Territory, improving the delivery of healthcare, safety, education, and social services as well as fostering economic development, environmental protection and infrastructure development.