Telus invests.. TELUS Communications Inc
TELUS broadband networks and technology are accelerating Canada’s digital economy by enabling online healthcare, education and teleworking flexibility
Investments in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum will contribute to the economic development of B.C. and generate thousands of new jobs
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELUS announced today the investment of $17.5 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across British Columbia over the next four years and has committed to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026.
“This generational $17.5 billion investment in British Columbia is a true demonstration of TELUS’ long-standing commitment to improving the lives of Canadians by connecting communities from coast-to-coast with our world-leading wireless 5G and PureFibre networks,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Our broadband technology is supporting critical, transformational change in respect of enabling online healthcare, education and teleworking flexibility, and accelerating Canada’s digital economy and society for heightened productivity, competitiveness and human welfare outcomes in the post-pandemic period. Importantly, through our investment, we are supporting the social and economic vibrancy of British Columbia and ensuring that every member of our society has access to the technology that yields the opportunity to realize their full potential.”
These significant investments include:
-
Generating new jobs to support B.C.’s growing economy
Generating jobs for 5,500 British Columbians at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026, with a focus on construction, engineering, emerging technologies and other supporting industries.
-
Rebuilding the Lytton and Merritt areas
TELUS is helping to rebuild Merritt following last year's significant flooding across the region, as well as Lytton and the Lytton First Nation following 2021’s devastating wildfire. TELUS will connect homes and businesses in both communities to its PureFibre network, bringing residents B.C.’s fastest Internet speeds in Nooaitch 10 and Pauls Basin 2 First Nation Reserves, and helping the community of Lytton achieve its goal of becoming net-zero. A PureFibre connection is more sustainable and resilient compared to copper networks because it uses less power and produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions. In both communities, this means their new communications infrastructure will be more robust and stronger in the face of extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods, making the communities safer during an emergency.
-
As part of TELUS’ commitment to economic recovery in the Lytton area, we will seek to hire and train local workers and will rent construction equipment from local vendors, supporting the community’s economic recovery.
-
Connecting over 1.6 million homes in B.C.
In addition to bringing its PureFibre network to Lytton and Merritt, TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across B.C. including Coquitlam, kikm (Kwikwetlem First Nation), Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Parksville, Prince George, Saanich, Squamish, and Sydney. PureFibre is B.C.'s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches more than 1.6 million homes and businesses across the province. The symmetrical upload and download Internet speeds and nearly infinite bandwidth enabled only by PureFibre means everyone can work, stream, game, or make video calls at the same time.
-
Delivering 5G to Remote Communities
With the rollout of the 3.5 GHz spectrum later this year, Canadians in B.C. will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. British Columbians living in some rural and remote communities are also some of the first in the country to access home Internet speeds of 100 Mbps through TELUS’ 5G fixed wireless network, using the capabilities of 5G to provide a powerful alternative to a wired Internet connection.
-
TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla® for the ninth consecutive time.
-
5G Core and Multi-Access Edge Computing
TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities that will further advance IoT and industry solutions that will enable important innovations for businesses and sectors, including health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
-
Our network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.
-
Creating a greener B.C. and planet through virtualization
As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us transition to a sustainable future through the digitization of the economy, including optimizing energy consumption at home and reducing food waste through its TELUS Agriculture solutions.
-
The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of British Columbians to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road.
-
To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is twenty times the size of Stanley Park in Vancouver.