Canadian operator TELUS has signed a 10-year deal with the Calgary Airport Authority to deploy and manage a “benchmark” private 5G network at Calgary International Airport (YYC). They called it an “unprecedented 10-year agreement”, and said Calgary International Airport will be the first in the country to have private 5G. There is no word yet on partners – whether for the radio and core network components, or for the system integration. RCR Wireless has enquired.
The Calgary Airport Authority is responsible for the management, operation, and development of both Calgary International Airport and Springbank Airport in Alberta. The deal sets out plans for an “airport-wide” private 5G network, to be deployed in stages, with the initial implementation to take place from May 2025. It will provide coverage inside and outside the terminal building, affording “full wireless coverage for all airport users”.
The Calgary Airport Authority, said “fixed connections and Wi-Fi will not be enough” for the airport to navigate its own digital transformation – and that only private 5G will do. TELUS, which claims the “country’s largest private 5G network” already, called it an “unprecedented” project that will serve as a “basis for future technological innovations” and a “benchmark” model for “airport technology in Canada” and “digital transformation… in critical infrastructure”.
Megan Gupton, senior information officer at the Calgary Airport Authority, said: “We are focusing on the future of travel… With the acceleration of the digital shift and the need to modernise our network, this infrastructure will improve the travel experience and enable us to respond more effectively to future demand. Fixed connections and Wi-Fi will not be enough. Private 5G is needed to increase productivity, resilience, and sustainability.”
Navin Arora, executive vice president at TELUS, and president of its enterprise division, said: “By setting up the first airport-wide private mobile network, we are not only improving current operations, we are creating a platform for continuous innovation that will improve travel experience and operational efficiency for years to come. This collaboration sets a new standard for smart infrastructure in Canada.”
