The $45.4 million Connected Coast project begins construction in the Strait of Georgia this week.

The $45.4 million Connected Coast project begins construction in the Strait of Georgia this week.

The subsea fibre optic cable lay process will begin on Gabriola Island and move north to Campbell River and the Discovery Islands over the next few weeks. Construction will also include 26 landing sites where the cable comes ashore.

These sites will provide the infrastructure for Internet Service Providers to connect businesses and households with high-speed internet.

Later this summer, the connection from Gabriola to the Vancouver internet exchange will occur and allow for network testing and light up of the high-speed internet.

Construction of the 3,400 km project began this past winter in the north, near Prince Rupert.

More than 600 km of cable has been laid along with 21 landing sites constructed in rural, remote and First Nation communities.

An important project milestone took place earlier this month when the fibre optic cable was laid to bring a connection to Haida Gwaii.

For more information, visit https://connectedcoast.ca/