High-speed internet service expansion to underserved rural and remote communities in northern B.C. is benefiting the local economy.
For Doug Olson, a member of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation who manages a local gas station and convenience store just north of Prince George on behalf of the nation, access to high-speed internet helped expand services to more customers.
When Tano Fuels opened in 2017, he was often only able to accept cash due to a lack of reliable high-speed internet service.
Since his community was connected, the business is now able to accommodate customers paying with a bank card.
A new study called the Northern B.C. Connectivity benefits study released by B.C. Stats finds high-speed internet service expansion to underserved rural and remote communities in northern B.C. can have significant short- and long-term impact for people and the local and provincial economy.
The northern study estimates the province’s initial investment of $38.4 million toward improving connectivity throughout the northern region will yield seven times the return on investment, generating a local and provincial total of $269 million in economic benefits.
This equates to an estimated long-term economic benefit of more than $16,000 per connected person over 20 years, from impacts such as access to online learning, high-speed internet in schools, increased ability to apply for jobs online and the ability to work remotely.
The study finds that high-speed connectivity expansion increases economic impact at both the regional and provincial levels. This includes:
* Short-term benefits, as a result of building infrastructure:
* For northern B.C., approximately 195 new jobs and a $22.2 million increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
* For British Columbia (including the North), approximately 382 new jobs and a $44.1 million increase in GDP.
* Long-term benefits, as a result of increased productivity from improved access to high-speed internet services:
* $225.3 million in increased provincial GDP over 20 years from economic opportunities for businesses, workers and residents.
This report is the second in a five-part series that examines the economic benefit of provincial connectivity spending in rural areas of B.C.
