Coldwater Band residents receive improved internet services

COLDWATER, B.C. — Improved high-speed internet services are coming to members of the Coldwater Indian Band, south of Merritt.

People in more than 120 households in the First Nations community of Coldwater 1 near Merritt now have access to high-speed internet services with the installation of new infrastructure.

“Building a stronger, more sustainable economy begins with empowering rural, remote and Indigenous communities with better access to the digital world,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services. “With the completion of this project, people of Coldwater 1 now have access to high-speed internet services, opening up a wide range of opportunities. We are committed to connecting every rural, remote and Indigenous community by 2027 to ensure the benefits of high-speed internet access are shared by everyone in B.C.”

The new infrastructure in the Coldwater Indian Band community has enabled access to high-speed broadband internet speeds of more than 50 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads.

“I am happy that Telus was able to bring high-speed internet to Coldwater. It feels like we are catching up with the world around us,” said Kristopher Oppenheim, the Coldwater Indian Band’s lands, wills and estates administrator. “Our members can now have stable internet services. We are no longer in the stone age.”

The Province invested approximately $185,000, along with a $173,000 investment by Telus Communications Inc., toward the project with a total cost of approximately $358,000.