By the end of year, more than 70% of the Canadian population will be able to experience TELUS’ blazing fast 5G network, providing speeds up to 1.7 Gbps1
TELUS is investing $13 billion in British Columbia through 2024 to support residents and businesses with the network connectivity needed to succeed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic
PARKSVILLE and QUALICUM BEACH, British Columbia, Sept. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELUS has expanded its next-generation 5G network to Parksville and Qualicum Beach as part of its larger $13 billion investment in infrastructure and operations in British Columbia through 2024 to further support the province throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recovery. Local residents and businesses now have access to TELUS’ lightning fast 5G network, which will contribute to improved health and educational outcomes for British Columbians, in addition to enabling an entrepreneurial spirit and unleashing human productivity.
“The significant investments we are making in our world-leading network to rapidly expand our 5G footprint is enabling us to connect the citizens of Parksville and Qualicum Beach to the people, resources and critical information they need as we continue to navigate the global pandemic,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO. “Now more than ever, TELUS is committed to keeping Canadians connected, productive and healthy. Indeed, the ongoing expansion of our next-generation 5G technology is bridging time and distance, allowing residents to live and work in any community without compromising productivity or economic opportunity. Importantly, as we look optimistically toward a period of economic and social recovery, our global leading network will continue to drive the innovation that empowers the diversity and competitiveness of our country’s private sector and improves economic equality in our digital world, helping us answer the most pressing social challenges in health, education and the environment for the benefit of all Canadians.”
In Opensignal’s first Canada 5G User Experience Report 20212, which analyzed Canada’s next-generation networks,TELUS took home six awards including Fastest 5G Download and Upload Speeds, Best 5G Video Experience, Best Voice App Experience and Best 5G Availability nationwide. Additionally, TELUS recently earned the top spot in Ookla’s 2021 Fastest Mobile Network Speedtest Awards3 for the fifth year in a row, inclusive of both download and upload speeds. These achievements, along with the numerous, sustained accolades TELUS has earned over the years, showcase the strength and speed of TELUS’ global-leading mobile network. This wireless network leadership, and the investment and talented team that underpin it, drive our country’s innovation agenda and the resulting economic and social outcomes.
Leveraging multiple vendors including Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia, TELUS is expanding its 5G network to an additional 529 new communities across Canada, and will cover more than 70% of the population by the end of the year. Beyond lightning-fast speeds, 5G offers a leap in capabilities over today’s 4G networks, including increased capacity, ultra-low latency, network slicing and edge computing. These advancements are the foundation to power new applications serving enhanced health and educational outcomes for Canadians by improving access for all, regardless of where you live and work. The evolution of 5G will also allow us to connect more than 30 billion life-changing devices, supercharge drones with sensors for improved crop management and make autonomous vehicles smarter and safer - and that is just the beginning. It is estimated that 5G will create 250,000 jobs4 and contribute $150 billion to Canada’s economy over the next 20 years,5 which will be key to Canada’s fiscal recovery.
Since 2000, TELUS has invested nearly $240 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum across Canada, including more than $47 billion in technology and operations in British Columbia.
The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2021, as updated in TELUS’ first quarter 2021 earnings’ release, dated May 7, 2021.
For coverage maps and more information, visit telus.com/5G.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lena Chen
TELUS Public Relations
Lena.Chen@telus.com
1 Network speeds vary with location, signal and customer device. Compatible device required. Manufacturer’s rated peak download speeds: 5G, up to 1700 Mbps, LTE Advanced, up to 1350 Mbps; LTE, up to 150 Mbps; HSPA+, up to 42 Mbps.
2 Opensignal Awards — Canada: 5G User Experience Report 2021, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period Jan 1 – March 31, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited. TELUS 5G subscribers see a 2x jump in speed compared to Opensignal’s February report, which saw 2x speed gain vs 4G.
3 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data for average download speeds and Speed Score in Canada for H1 2021. Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
4 Based on a recent report from Accenture.
5 Based on a recent report from GSMA
