Telus also announced partnerships to set new 5G labs in Montreal
Canadian operator Telus plans to invest CAD30 million ($22.7 million) this year to expand and update its 5G network and connect the city’s businesses to optic fiber.
The telco said the main aim of the initiative is to provide the nearly 10 million visitors expected in the Montreal region this summer with 5G connectivity and network capacity.
The operator also said it is also continuing its partnerships with Zú and the École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) for 5G labs to promote innovation and connect Montreal’s businesses, universities and researchers with the latest 5G technology.
“For our 3,600 team members in the city, Montreal continues to be a key focus for our technological innovations, and we’re maintaining our commitment to making Montreal one of the most welcoming and innovative cities in the world,” says Nazim Benhadid, senior vice president at Telus. “Lots of tourists choose Montreal for their summer vacation plans, and with our massive investments, we’re joining the city’s efforts to provide a first-class experience for visitors and maximize economic benefits for Montreal. Our long-term vision for our laboratories and technological innovation environments is also redefining the entertainment, construction and smart city industries to make our city and its businesses greener, more dynamic and more secure than ever.”
As part of the projected investments, Telus will be offering free public Wi-Fi and upgrading its 5G network at the Grand Quay of the Port of Montreal.
Meanwhile, the Telus 5G Lab will be outfitted with the latest 5G technology. This lab is located at Zú, a Montreal hub established by Guy Laliberté, founder of the Cirque du Soleil.
Telus also recently signed an agreement with ÉTS and iBwave focused on how wireless networks inside buildings are designed and deployed, and to innovate in the construction industry. The agreement will lead to the creation of a 5G laboratory at ÉTS that will serve as a meeting place for researchers, students and companies to drive innovation in telecommunications, engineering and architecture through the use of 5G networks.
Telus said it plans to invest CAD81.2 billion in Canada by 2027, including CAD11.5 billion in the Quebec economy, for its infrastructure, operations and spectrum licensing and to improve the coverage, speed and reliability of its networks.
In June last year, Telus said it started to deploy its 3.5 GHz spectrum on its existing 5G wireless network to provide enhanced capacity, low latency and faster speeds to its customers in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton and Victoria.
The telco said it expects to continue to deploy its new spectrum through 2022 and 2023 to other regions across the country.
Telus noted that its 3.5 GHz spectrum will enable multi-access edge computing (MEC) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, while powering important advances in health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
Telus had previously selected Samsung Electronics as its 5G network infrastructure supplier in June 2020. Telus also said that European vendors Ericsson and Nokia are also supporting the deployment of its 5G network.
