New insights have emerged regarding a fiber optic route set to be implemented along a highway in northern British Columbia, as reported by CBC News. This development comes after a series of recent telecommunication outages in the region, sparking discussions on network resilience.
CityWest, a telecom provider, has disclosed its plans to construct the Northern Resiliency Project route along Highway 37. The project aims to create a new, physically separate path for telecommunications throughout the northern region. This additional route will offer an alternative for network traffic in case of disruptions.
Spanning over 870 kilometers from the Kitwanga Junction on Highway 16 to the Yukon border, Highway 37, also known as the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, will host the new fiber optic route starting from Dease Lake, B.C., and concluding in Watson Lake, Yukon.
Responsible for delivering internet, television, and home phone services across a vast area of northwest and northern B.C., including locations like Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii, CityWest clarified that fiber optic cables, unlike copper, are not typically targeted by thieves. However, these cables may connect with other telecommunication infrastructure along the route, making them susceptible to disruptions caused by copper theft in supporting infrastructure.
In collaboration with the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation, CityWest is spearheading the project, which will also be accessible to other telecom carriers seeking enhanced resilience. The new infrastructure will be laid underground to reduce visibility and exposure to risks such as theft, wildfires, vehicle accidents, and wildlife interference.
The initiative is a response to recent outages, including one on August 11 that affected internet services for numerous CityWest customers west of Prince George due to a disruption in Rogers transport infrastructure in Alberta, possibly caused by cable theft. Thieves have previously targeted Telus service in the northwest by damaging or attempting to steal copper cables.
Mayor Herb Pond of Prince Rupert commended CityWest’s efforts, emphasizing the importance of multiple pathways to prevent service interruptions. Equipment sites along the route will feature backup power systems to ensure continuous operations during extended power outages.
The completion of the route is projected by the end of 2027, offering improved network resilience and reliability for telecommunications in the region.