Internet connectivity can make the difference between a small business serving a localized market, and a small business with the potential to expand into other communities, regions, provinces, and even countries. With high-speed internet and a next generation network, the possibilities are truly endless. Regional economic growth depends on internet access that is fast, secure and reliable.
Every success story starts with an idea - the identification of products or services that people want and are willing to purchase. It starts with a sound business plan that forms the foundation for action. Developing a successful business plan requires vision, information, commitment, and creativity.
Ramp-Up
View the Ramp Up! report (6MB, PDF 
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In 2004, TELUS initiated the Ramp-Up project to spark that creativity and support community efforts to revitalize BC's regional economies.
TELUS retained international consultant Frank Knott of Vital Economy Inc. to initiate regional discussions, conduct research, analyze opportunities, and produce a summary report. During the summer of 2004, Vital Economy Inc. facilitated discussions through six regional workshops, and conducted brainstorming and visioning exercises to determine local priorities and aspirations.
Ramp-Up is designed to provide an economic blueprint of the growth opportunities that exist across B.C., and to equip communities with leading-edge research that they can use to realize their region's unique goals and opportunities.
Success Stories
Spectra Studios, Hudson's Hope
Ryan Herbison, owner of local computer store Spectra Studios, figures the upgrade from dial-up service doubled his business. He recalls that when high-speed came to town, computers became a lot more appealing. It wasn’t just the local school district or area business people who appreciated having faster service; many townspeople also decided that high-speed access made computers a smart investment for personal use.
In rural areas such as Hudson’s Hope, where opportunities for social get-togethers may be limited, the internet can play an even bigger role that the telephone in helping people share information and stay in touch.
The advent of high-speed wireless connections to remote areas around Hudson’s Hope has also allowed at least eight households and businesses that were previously without phone service to have phones. Herbison himself says he couldn’t do without high-speed connectivity. It ensures he can serve clients better by placing orders with suppliers online as well as researching and troubleshooting computer problems in a way not previously possible.
TELUS looks forward to working with community service providers like the Peace Region Internet Society, to bring connectivity into the homes of the 119 digital divide communities currently without access.
High-speed internet access has proved so popular in Hudson’s Hope, in the foothills of B.C.’s Rocky Mountains, that almost every household in the community of 1,200 people now has a computer. Thanks to the efforts of the Peace Region Internet Society.
Highland Valley Copper, Logan Lake
In less than seven years Canada's largest open pit copper mine has gone from one dial-up line shared by four people to a high-speed connection that serves more than 200. And pretty soon, Highland Valley Copper, located near the central B.C. community of Logan Lake, expects to have even greater bandwidth, ensuring there will be no constraints on e-mail, e-commerce, technical or on the virtual private network that connects remote sites and employees through the internet.
Dial-up speed was sufficient as long as the mine had no business use for the internet. But as computer-based solutions, manuals and upgrades over the internet grew, and as e-mail increased in complexity and volume, Highland Valley Copper needed more bandwidth. An upgrade to high-speed internet capability allowed as many as 80 people to use e-mail and carry out research and technical support, but demand continued to outgrow capacity.
Because of the remoteness of the site, it was not possible for TELUS to provide higher bandwidth directly. However, using TELUS fibre, local internet service provider On Call Internet Services set up a wireless link from one mountain top near Merritt to another near Logan Lake, doubling the mine's connection speed. With fibre communications capability into Logan Lake now in place, Telus is planning to boost bandwidth further in the coming months.
Highland Valley Copper uses the internet to support business rather than to do business. Engineering drawings are sent by e-mail, bank transactions are conducted electronically, and staff can be sure of a fast and reliable communications link with suppliers in Canada and around the world who provide technical, product and infrastructure support.
