ABC Communications is pleased to have reached the milestone of 30 years in business this year.
Founded in Quesnel in 1989 by Bob and Christine Allen as a small business phone systems provider, ABC Communications has grown significantly since those days and now boasts eight offices and 50 employees spread across B.C.
From its humble beginnings, the company evolved to offer computer repair services, which put it in a great position to begin offering dial-up Internet and web design in the mid-1990s when the Internet era began. This allowed ABC to quickly grow and purchase operations in Prince George in 1997.
The company moved with the times, offering broadband access through ADSL service, and was able to transition much of its base to the new high-speed technology.
For its rural customers, ABC needed to look to another solution and pioneered wireless Internet access in B.C.
ABC was the first to bring WiMAX wireless technology to B.C., and it allowed for speeds on par with urban delivery methods at that time.
“We saw that a large section of B.C. was missing out on broadband at that time and knew we needed to focus on those customers,” noted Chris Allen, company president and the son of Bob and Christine Allen. “There were real greenfield opportunities in that era, as customers really only had dial-up as an alternate option.”
ABC grew again through acquisition and bought an ISP in Penticton to gain an Okanagan foothold in 2002.
Further acquisitions would follow, and the company expanded into Burns Lake in 2007, Vanderhoof in 2010 and 100 Mile House in 2011.
ABC continued to invest in its technology and was the first to deploy TD-LTE wireless systems for its fixed wireless network. This allowed another big jump up in speed, coverage and reliability for ABC’s rural subscribers.
ABC continued to grow its urban customer base as well, adding cable Internet, along with voice and TV services to its portfolio. ABC was one of the first companies in B.C. to begin offering fibre optic connections to businesses through its wholesale partnership with Telus.
ABC now has 5,000 subscribers across Western Canada and can boast many major enterprises and public institutions as its customers. The company offers a wide product suite of connectivity products for residential and business customers of all sizes.
“Looking back at the business now, I feel so proud of what my team has been able to achieve,” noted Bob Allen. “I feel we have really been able to change the demographics of rural B.C. by allowing people to remain in areas where connectivity wouldn’t otherwise exist.”
ABC Communications is looking forward to continued growth into the future, and Bob shows no sign of slowing down as company CEO.
“I’m looking forward to the next 30 years of growth,” Bob mused.
— Submitted by ABC Communications
editor@quesnelobserver.com
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