No fibre-optics for Whistler this year Autumn project delayed until spring Installation of state of the art fibre-optic tele-communication cable linking Whistler with the Lower Mainland has been delayed until next spring. The announcement that Whistler’s tele-communication link would be updated came in April during a regular Chamber of Commerce meeting in Whistler, and at the same time that BC Tel had completed a merger to become BCT. Telus. Doug Strachan, media relations manager with Telus, said the problem is with the equipment delivery, which won’t coincide with the window of opportunity needed for the six week, $6.5 million installation project. The fibre-optic cable will eventually be strung from Squamish to Whistler by a helicopter laying the line on 51 existing BC Hydro transmission towers. The present telephone system is digital, and has been in place for some 15 years. The fibre-optic cable will expand the broadband data systems and enable faster and more accurate internet video conferencing. In addition, an average long distance phone call made between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. will be much faster to connect once the cable is in place. BCT. Telus says the line will eliminate the "long distance network congestion" created between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday in Whistler, caused mainly by the large number of callers signing who now use a long distance calling plan.
