5G network development a key part of Bell's lead in global wireless innovation
MONTRÉAL, March 20, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today applauded the announcement by the federal, Québec and Ontario governments of their
commitment to position Canada as a global leader in 5G (Fifth Generation) wireless technology. As the country's primary driver of
broadband communications innovation, Bell shares the governments' objective to enhance economic growth through the development
and deployment of 5G.
"Bell is setting the pace in advancing wireless network coverage, speed and quality. We've made great strides in testing our
5G network readiness, developing standards at the international level, and building the connected home, vehicle and smart city
applications that will take full advantage of the 5G opportunity," said George Cope, President and
CEO of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada. "As a company with the scale and dedication to ensure Canada
competes in broadband communications at the international level, Bell commends the federal, Ontario and Québec governments for embracing the growth and prosperity opportunities represented by
next-generation 5G technology."
Bell invests more than $4 billion in capital annually in wireless and fibre network and service
development, including more than half a billion dollars in Canadian R&D, and has achieved a number of firsts in mobile
technology innovation:
Canada's first 5G trials
Bell and technology partner Nokia completed Canada's initial 5G trials in 2016, demonstrating sustained 5G mobile data speeds in the 73 GHz spectrum range for
the first time. Bell continues to advance our 5G capability with partners including Nokia and Huawei at our Wireless Innovation
Centres in Dorval, QC, Toronto and Mississauga, ON and in field deployments in multiple communities. Bell also contributes to the global 5G
standards process through the Next Generation Mobile
Networks (NGMN) consortium and Third Generation Partnership
Program (3GPP) overseeing the development of the international 5G ecosystem.
WTTH deployment
Wireless to the Home (WTTH) technology is new fixed wireless technology that will take full advantage of 5G to deliver
high speed Internet service to residents in smaller and underserved communities. After successful trials with Huawei earlier this year, Bell has launched WTTH in 2 small Ontario towns initially with LTE Advanced capability and will roll out service in more than 20 other
Ontario and Québec communities this year.
Maximizing 4G LTE
Bell 4G LTE is Canada's Best National Mobile Network and reached 99% of the national population in 2017, an
unprecedented level of national coverage. Bell has led the way in the deployment of LTE Advanced technology and last year became
the first carrier in North America to offer Quad Band LTE-A and theoretical
mobile data speeds of up to 750 Mbps, and first in Canada to deploy Gigabit LTE-A speeds in preparation for the new
Gigabit-capable smartphones coming to market this year.
Bell has also developed a new LTE-M network to improve the efficiency of Internet of Things (IoT) devices by enabling very low power
consumption and better coverage in underground and other hard to reach locations.
Smart houses, cities and cars: Bell IoT innovation
5G wireless networks will enable the next generation of IoT applications, and Bell has built the strategy,
technologies and partnerships necessary to enable the connected home and business, connected vehicles and smart cities of the
future.
Bell has developed a wide range of telematics services for Hyundai and Kia vehicles ; an automated IoT solution to improve
planning and sustainability at the Henry of Pelham Estate Winery in partnership with BeWhere Technologies and Huawei; an Echologics water leak
detection system for the City of Medicine Hat ; and a partnership with Icicle Technologies to
improve safety for Canada's food industry with IoT solutions.
Bell and the
City of Kingston recently partnered for the first deployment of Bell's Smart City platform.
The project will provide a series of connected IoT applications to collect data in real time to enhance operational efficiency
and improve services for residents, businesses and visitors.
About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing innovative broadband wireless,
TV, Internet and business communication services across the country. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with
leading assets in television, radio, out of home and digital media. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell
Let's Talk Day and provides significant funding for community care and access, research and workplace initiatives. To learn more,
please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries
Nathan Gibson
905-614-9596
nathan.gibson@bell.ca
@Bell_News
Investor inquiries
Thane Fotopoulos
514-870-4619
thane.fotopoulos@bell.ca
SOURCE Bell Canada
View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2018/20/c3165.html