Telus has announced $60 million in funding to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the Town of Okotoks, Black Diamond and Turner Valley directly to its fibre optic network.

Quincy Brown, Economic Development Manager with the Town of Okotoks, says he is thrilled with Telus' investment.

"Telus and the municipality are very proud to partner on this project which will certainly benefit and strengthen the community of Okotoks, high speed Internet service is more than just a convenience. It's really essential for citizens, businesses, and institutions to access information while offering services, and creating opportunities that may otherwise have had been out of reach."

A Fibre Optic network in the community will create not only greater access to speed, but a more reliable signal to users.

Brown says this is a huge step towards attracting more business to Okotoks, particularly those that rely heavily on technology.

"Having access to the latest technology is really a key strategy to attract more technologically related businesses to Okotoks, while sparking innovation in an age where digital is really becoming the norm."

According to Telus local healthcare providers, educators and technology companies will be able to draw upon the technology to re-imagine how they deliver existing services.

Telus says the Fibre Optic Network will also lay groundwork for future 5G technology.

Construction on the Fibre Optic Network is set to begin in the Spring of 2018, and is expected to be completed by 2019.

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