Rogers Starts Rollout of Canada’s First 5G Network and Joins Global 5G Forum
January 15 2020 - 09:15AM
Rogers announced it is starting to roll out Canada’s first 5G
network in downtown Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal so it
is ready when 5G devices become available this year. The Rogers 5G
network will expand to over 20 more markets by the end of the year.
The company also announced it is the exclusive Canadian
member of the global 5G Future Forum, a first-of-its-kind 5G and
mobile edge computing forum that includes Verizon, Vodafone,
Telstra, KT, and América Móvil.
“5G is the biggest technological evolution since the launch of
wireless in Canada. We are making the right investments, building
the right partnerships and deploying the right technology to bring
Canadians the very best of 5G,” said Joe Natale, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Rogers Communications. “5G will not only
power businesses, it will fuel entire industries and drive Canada’s
digital future. We were the first with wireless services
thirty-five years ago, and we are once again first to bring this
innovative technology to consumers and businesses on Canada’s only
national network.”
The Rogers 5G network initially uses 2.5 GHz spectrum in the
downtown cores of Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and will
expand to use 600 MHz 5G spectrum later this year. 600 MHz is best
suited to carry wireless data across long distances and through
dense urban buildings, creating more consistent and higher quality
coverage in both remote areas and smart cities. In the future,
Rogers will also start deploying 3.5 GHz spectrum and dynamic
spectrum sharing, which will allow 4G spectrum to be used for 5G.
Rogers will also turn on 5G in the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena
and Rogers Arena to enhance how fans watch the game in the future
as innovation and applications develop.
5G will introduce new capabilities that are significantly more
advanced than previous generations of wireless technology. 1G let
customers make mobile phone calls, 2G enabled text messaging, 3G
powered email and internet browsing, 4G delivered faster speeds and
the on-demand economy. Over the next several years, 5G will
transform businesses and industries with increased speed and
capacity, more efficient use of spectrum, improved battery life and
lower latency. 5G will also support a massive increase in the
number of connected devices that require near instantaneous access
for applications like augmented and virtual reality, smart
communities, remote patient health care, robotics and driverless
vehicles.
Investment is the lifeblood of wireless networks. Rogers has
invested $9 billion in spectrum licences and over $30 billion
overall in its wireless networks since 1985. These investments have
helped ensure Canadians enjoy the third fastest wireless networks
in the world, networks that are twice as fast as the U.S. with LTE
covering 99 per cent of Canadians. This would not have been
possible without the right investment-oriented regulatory
environment. The race to 5G is not with other companies, it is with
other countries so the right investment and the right public policy
is critical to Canada’s digital economy and Canada’s global
competitiveness.
Rogers is partnering with Ericsson, North America’s 5G provider
of choice, to boost and densify Canada’s most trusted network with
4.5G and 5G technology. Rogers has partnered with Ericsson since
the launch of wireless services in 1985. To make sure customers get
the most out of this new technology, Rogers 5G services will be
available exclusively on Rogers Infinite plans with unlimited data
and no overage fees. “5G is not just another G. It is a
global technology that requires local development to deliver the
best social and economic benefits to Canadians,” said Jorge
Fernandes, Chief Technology Officer, Rogers Communications.
“Through our multi-year program we will invest in our wireless
network and partner with leaders to drive innovative use cases for
Canadian consumers and businesses.”
Rogers has established key strategic Canadian partnerships to
research, incubate and commercialize made-in-Canada 5G technology
and applications. This includes R&D partnerships with the
University of British Columbia, the University of Waterloo and an
incubator at Communitech. Rogers is also collaborating with
government and industry through Ryerson University Rogers
Cybersecure Catalyst and ENCQOR 5G. Internationally, Rogers is a
founding member of the new 5G Future Forum, which will create a
common framework for 5G applications enabled by mobile edge
computing across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
About Rogers
Rogers is a proud Canadian company dedicated to making more
possible for Canadians each and every day. Our founder, Ted
Rogers, purchased his first radio station, CHFI, in 1960. We
have grown to become a leading technology and media company that
strives to provide the very best in wireless, residential, and
media to Canadians and Canadian businesses. Our shares are publicly
traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on
the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). If you want to find out
more about us, visit about.rogers.com
SOURCE Rogers Communications Canada Inc. – English
For further information: media@rci.rogers.com,
647-747-5118
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