OTTAWA — Telus announced today an investment of $23 billion in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum across Ontario from 2022 to 2026, which the company says will help generate 9,500 new jobs in the province over five years, according to a press release.
“[T]hrough our investment, we are supporting the social and economic vibrancy of Ontarians and ensuring that every member of our society has access to the technology that yields the opportunity to realize their full potential,” said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO of Telus, in the release.
Telus has recently made similar announcements for the provinces of Quebec, B.C. and Alberta. The company says it will invest $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026.
In today’s announcement, Telus says the new jobs generated in Ontario will be focused on construction, engineering and emerging technologies.
Telus also notes that with the rollout of its 3.5 GHz spectrum through 2022 and 2023, “Ontarians will have enhanced access to Telus’ 5G network through an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection.”
In addition, “Telus will introduce its 5G standalone network later this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities further advancing IoT and industry solutions and enabling important innovations in health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing,” the release says.
Telus is also supporting Ontario’s agriculture industry through its Telus Agriculture division, which “is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain.”
With its portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, “Telus Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Ontario, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential,” the release adds.
“This is excellent news for the province of Ontario,” said Gudie Hutchings, federal minister of rural economic development, in the release. “Ensuring that all Canadians have access to reliable, high-speed Internet has become increasingly important, and this investment from Telus will help create jobs, connect Ontarians, and contribute towards building an environmentally sustainable Canada.”
“Our government is committed to investing in critical broadband infrastructure to connect the people of Ontario, and we want to thank Telus for their $23 billion investment in the province’s economy and the 9,500 new jobs it will create,” said Vic Fedeli, Ontario’s minister of economic development, job creation and trade. “Together, we are one step closer to delivering our bold and ambitious plan to ensure that everyone, no matter where they live, will have access to reliable, high-speed internet by 2025.”
