TORONTO — Rogers Communications announced Tuesday morning its 5G network has expanded to more than 50 new cities and towns and is expected to reach a total of more than 60 markets by the end of the year.
In January, Rogers initially rolled out its 5G network in downtown Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Coverage has now been expanded in the Greater Vancouver area and the Greater Toronto Area. In addition, other major cities now covered by the Rogers 5G network include Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Quebec City. Additional new locations range from small towns to metropolitan centres in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec (see the list below).
“5G is the next big leap forward that will change how we live and work. Our award-winning network is Canada’s most reliable and most trusted and we are proud to be extending the country’s first and now largest 5G network to over 60 towns and cities by the end of the year,” said Joe Natale, Rogers president and CEO, in the press release. “Strong digital infrastructure and investments in 5G are critical to fuel productivity and innovation across this country now, as we power out of Covid-19, and in the future as we reset the competitive landscape for Canada, globally.”
Rogers’ 5G service is currently accessible to customers on Rogers Infinite plans and unlimited business wireless plans with select 5G-ready devices, and will support additional 5G devices launching from Rogers this fall, says the release.
Rogers is currently using 2.5 GHz, AWS and 600 MHz spectrum to provide 5G coverage. The company has deployed Ericsson’s Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) technology in a number of the new markets, says the release. DSS enables spectrum to be used for 4G and 5G simultaneously on the 600 MHz and AWS spectrum bands. Rogers has also deployed DSS in existing markets and will add additional frequency bands over time, says the release. (Like other 5G providers, Rogers will undoubtedly be looking to acquire spectrum in next year’s 3500 MHz auction as it is that mid-band and higher spectrum which will deliver the serious speed and latency gains promised by the new standard.)
“Today’s announcement is an important milestone in our multi-year journey to bring the best of 5G to Canadians,” added Jorge Fernandes, chief technology and information officer of Rogers. “As we continue to roll out the next generation of wireless technology to additional Canadian markets, we are focused on building our robust 5G ecosystem with strategic investments, world-class partners and cutting-edge technology that will bring the best of connectivity to Canadian consumers and businesses.”
Rogers has chosen Ericsson as its 5G vendor for its full network infrastructure, including core and radio access network. The company also has strategic partnerships to research and commercialize Canadian 5G technology and applications with the University of British Columbia, the University of Waterloo, Communitech, Ryerson University Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and ENCQOR. Rogers is also a founding member of the international 5G Future Forum, which is creating a common framework for 5G applications enabled by mobile edge computing across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific region.
Rogers 5G is now available in the following cities and towns:
Abbotsford-Mission, BC
Aurora, ON
Barrie, ON
Brampton, ON
Burnaby, BC
Caledon, ON
Calgary, AB
Cambridge, ON
Chilliwack, BC
Coquitlam, BC
Courtenay, BC
Delta, BC
Edmonton, AB
Fort McMurray, AB
Gatineau, QC
Grande Prairie, AB
Halton Hills, ON
Hamilton, ON
Kamloops, BC
Kelowna, BC
Kitchener, ON
Langley, BC
Lethbridge, AB
Maple Ridge, BC
Markham, ON
Milton, ON
Mississauga, ON
Montreal, QC
Nanaimo, BC
Newmarket, ON
New Westminster, BC
North Vancouver, BC
Oliver, BC
Oshawa, ON
Osoyoos, BC
Ottawa, ON
Penticton, BC
Pitt Meadows, BC
Port Coquitlam, BC
Port Moody, BC
Quebec City, QC
Regina, SK
Richmond, BC
Richmond Hill, ON
Salmon Arm, BC
Saskatoon, SK
Surrey, BC
Toronto, ON
Trois-Rivières, QC
Uxbridge, ON
Vancouver, BC
Vaughan, ON
Vernon, BC
Victoria, BC
Waterloo, ON
West Vancouver, BC
Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON
White Rock, BC
