Okanagan link to world

Photo: Flickr - Alan Levine

Several rural and remote areas of the Okanagan are now hooked up to the world.

Funding from the province's Connecting British Columbia program to Kelowna-based internet service provider ispeed Communications, brought high-speed internet service to more than 3,000 households across the North and Central Okanagan.

About 1,200 of those homes had no internet service at all, while the rest had limited, or slower speed service.

"Can you imagine being without internet at your home?" asked ispeed president Dave Bradich. "It's a key utility today. It's an integral part of our lives. If you don't have it, you're left out."

The company received the $185,000 provincial grant about a year ago, and implemented the service in the summer, says Bradich, whose system covers more than 300 square kilometres, from the Enderby-Mara area south to Peachland.

"There are many houses, people up in the hills, who could see the city, but didn't have a cable, or wired internet of some sort."

He said there are still a few small pockets that don't have access yet. 

The entire project came in $72,000 under budget. The savings will be used for future projects.