THE FUTURE IS HERE WITH 5G
Talk about a growth spurt.
At the beginning of the year, Rogers started rolling out Canada’s first 5G network in downtown Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Today, the country’s largest 5G network, with 10 times more coverage than any other carrier, has expanded to 130 communities across Canada, from Fredericton to Trois-rivières, from Regina to Victoria.*
“Now more than ever, we all understand what connectivity means to Canadians,” said Joe Natale, president and CEO, Rogers Communications. “Strong digital infrastructure and investments in 5G are critical to fuel productivity and innovation across this country both in the coming months, and in the longer term as we reset the competitive landscape for Canada, globally.”
The arrival of the next generation of wireless technology in Canada comes 35 years after the first wireless call in our country — on Rogers’ network — between the mayors of Toronto and Montreal. That early technology, called 1G, ushered in the era of mobile phone calls. Back then, cellular phones, weighing about two pounds, were carried over your shoulder and nicknamed “the brick.”
Next came 2G and text messaging. As cell phones got smaller, they became more powerful. 3G powered email and internet browsing and 4G delivered faster speeds and the on- demand economy. Innovators could now dream up previously unimaged new applications.
“We often pay more attention to the digital services we use rath
Over time, the technology will be truly transformational, for communities, business and entire sectors.” — JOE NATAL E , president and CEO, Rogers Communications
er than the digital infrastructure they run on. Uber and Spotify are front of mind, not the 4G network that enables them,” writes the Boston Consultancy Group’s Centre for Canada’s Future in a recent report on future-proofing Canada’s digital infrastructure.
Thirty-five years and $30 billion in investments in Rogers wireless network later, here we are. Each generation of wireless technology delivers capabilities that are significantly more advanced, and with 5G’s exponential gains, the sky’s the limit.
“The promise of 5G is that it will help engineers and innovators dream up things that were never before possible,” said Jorge Fernandes, chief technology and information officer, Rogers Communications.
Canadian consumers can nowchoose froma number of 5G phones.
Apple made a big splash earlier this month with the announcement of its first 5G iphone, just as Rogers doubled the size of its
5G network by expanding to 66 new towns and cities, including Squamish, Camrose, Lloydminster, Cornwall and many more to reach 130 communities.
Other 5G phones include the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a (5G), Samsung Galaxy S20 5G series and Galaxy Note20 5G series, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, LG Velvet 5G and the Motorola Edge+.
This next generation technology will profoundly alter the way we work, live and play. Billions of near-instantaneous connections will enable smart communities, better traffic management, more sustainable agribusiness and remote healthcare.
“Over time, the technology will be truly transformational, for communities, business and entire sectors,” said Natale.
Gamers will experience the thrill of 5G with faster speeds, more capacity and quicker response times, no waits and seamless multiplayer experience.
In healthcare it can reduce unequal access by allowing doctors to monitor patients in remote areas
in real-time, providing treatment and care, or even performing remote surgery with 5G-enabled robotics.
City traffic systems can be optimized to reduce long waits due to congestion and prioritize emergency vehicles so they can get to incidents sooner.
In factories, a constant flow of information can automate and enhance production, tracking inventory and keeping real-time data on maintenance, while also reducing safety risks.
5G offers an array of other benefits, from economic to social.
It will help lessen greenhouse gas emissions, according to an Accenture study, by dramatically increasing the energy efficiency of Canada’s wireless networks and enabling innovative technologies that will reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in industries like transportation, manufacturing, mining, and forestry.
On the economic front, an Ac
centure Strategy report found that wireless industry investments in 5G networks are expected to contribute an estimated $40 billion annually to the country’s economy and 250,000 permanent new jobs by 2026.
Canada is already an early leader in 5G. A May Opensignal report found that the overall download speed experience of Canada’s 5G users exceeds all but one country and is almost three times that of the United States.
“With some of the best networks in the world that have been fueled by billions of dollars of generational investments, Canada must seize the opportunity to lead,” said Natale.
“A timely rollout of 5G will foster substantial economic growth and job creation,” he noted. “That will stimulate innovation, generate jobs and create an environment that will help the country’s future.”
*Largest based on total square kilometers of Rogers 5G coverage compared to published coverage of other national networks.