It's a complaint you hear a fair amount in Revelstoke: Why is my phone service so spotty?
To answer this mystery, Black Press Media reached out to TELUS, the city's most popular telecommunications service provider, about what the culprit behind its spotty service may be, and how it intends to address it.
In an email, senior communications manager Tricia Lo said that "while TELUS has invested more in Revelstoke than any other operator, our network does see increased traffic from seasonal users," specifically near Revelstoke Mountain Resort.
Amid growing demand in Revelstoke for wireless bandwidth, Lo shared that TELUS is working with Revelstoke Mountain Resort to implement network upgrades this summer "that will significantly increase capacity and improve 5G and LTE voice and data quality for local residents, businesses and visitors."
A decade ago, in 2015, TELUS pledged to connect more than 90 per cent of Revelstoke homes and businesses directly to fibre-optic cable in a multi-million-dollar investment, at no cost to either residents or the city and with the promise of up to 100 megabits per second. Bert Braybrook, general manager for TELUS at the time, had said in a release that Revelstoke residents would "have access to incredible internet speeds."
In December 2021, TELUS brought its fastest 5G network in Canada to Revelstoke, promising up to 1.7 gigabits per second and highlighting the importance of high-speed connectivity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, TELUS regularly evaluates its networks in Revelstoke and elsewhere "to deploy more efficient and advanced technologies that provide our customers with the best experience possible," Lo added. "We remain committed to working with our partners and all levels of government to continue to improve network connectivity in rural and remote areas."
