Investment to support wireless coverage in
rural areas, growth of PureFibre footprint and restoration and
upgrades for Jasper to support wildfire recovery
VANCOUVER, BC, June 9, 2025
/CNW/ - TELUS is investing more than $13.5 billion over the next five years to expand
and enhance its network infrastructure and operations across
Alberta. As Canada navigates a challenging economic
environment and seeks to attract more investments in the country to
stimulate growth, this commitment to the province's future will
help fuel homegrown innovation and support the prosperity of
urban and rural communities. This investment builds on an
impressive track record, with TELUS having invested more than
$63 billion in Alberta since 2000, and is part of a larger
commitment to deploy a total of $70
billion by 2029 across Canada to boost productivity and support a
robust national economy.
"For more than 125 years, TELUS has been headquartered in
Western Canada, building a legacy
of advancing Alberta's economic
and social prosperity. Indeed, against a backdrop of macroeconomic
uncertainty, TELUS stands as one of the few companies committing to
bold, future-focused technology investments. We recognize that
sustained, transformative capital deployment is not only critical
for advancing digital inclusion, but also for unleashing
Alberta's full economic potential
in the years to come," said Darren
Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. "The $13.5 billion investment we are making across
Alberta transcends traditional
connectivity; it is powering advanced digital services, fuelling
innovation across all sectors of the economy and propelling our
productivity as a nation. Moreover, this investment is a
cornerstone of Canada's
competitiveness on the global stage, driving critical
transformational change and advancing our leadership in Canadian AI
sovereignty, innovation and development. Crucially, TELUS' capital
investments empower a more resilient and inclusive society,
enabling us to remediate the environmental state of our planet
through technology virtualization and bridge socio-economic and
geographic divides, particularly in rural and Indigenous
communities. Through our team's passionate efforts, we are ensuring
that all of our fellow Canadians can fully participate in, and
benefit from, the digital economy and our digital societies for
generations to come."
"TELUS' investment of $13.5
billion in Alberta is a
significant boost to our province's technological infrastructure
and economic landscape," said Premier Danielle Smith. "This initiative will enhance
connectivity in both urban and rural areas, support vital Jasper
wildfire recovery efforts, and drive forward our commitment to
innovation and growth."
Now through 2029 in Alberta,
TELUS is:
- Deploying targeted enhancements to our 5G and LTE services at
69 sites province-wide this year, significantly increasing
wireless coverage and capacity to future-enable the needs of our
customers and communities
- Addressing the increasing demand for affordable rental housing
by redeveloping old TELUS central office buildings as part of our
world-leading copper retirement program. Advancing our journey to
net-zero, we continue to support the circular economy by reclaiming
and repurposing legacy copper networks, helping to meet
Canada's need for this important
resource. To date, we have mined more than 4,600 tonnes of copper
from our network and enabled a reduction of 9,300 tonnes of GHG
emissions – equal to removing nearly 2,000 cars from roads for a
year
- Bringing TELUS PureFibre connectivity to more homes and
businesses across Alberta,
including a further commitment to expanding rural and Indigenous
connectivity by connecting every household on Tallcree First Nation
lands in northern Alberta by
June 2025, while expanding PureFibre
in Ontario and Quebec to further elevate TELUS as a national
provider
- Further supporting the TELUS Internet, Mobility, and Tech for
Good programs as well as TELUS Wise. Since inception, these
initiatives have helped bridge digital divides for 250,000 people
across Alberta while ensuring they
remain safe in our digital world
- Growing the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and TELUS
Community Boards, which have given $7.6
million in grants since 2018 to local youth-focused
charities to enable health and education programming in
Alberta
- Supporting a healthier population through accessible healthcare
solutions and programs with TELUS Health such as the launch of
Precision Health, a new cutting-edge preventive health service in
Calgary that offers a
revolutionary approach to health optimization by using advanced
imaging, lab and genetic testing to analyze vast data points,
providing unparalleled insights into individuals' current health
status and future wellbeing
- Fostering community connection through meaningful partnerships
with sports and cultural organizations, such as Calgary Flames,
Calgary Roughnecks, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, Spruce
Meadows, Red Deer Rebels and TELUS World of Science Edmonton and
TELUS Spark in Calgary
Over the last 24 years, TELUS has invested $276 billion in network infrastructure,
operations and spectrum nationally. Additionally since 2000, TELUS,
our team members and retirees provided over $285 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time
and programs and volunteered 4 million hours to charities and
community organizations located in Alberta.
These investments are consistent with TELUS' capital expenditure
guidance for 2025 as disclosed in the company's fourth quarter 2024
results and 2025 targets news release dated February 12, 2025 and in the company's first
quarter 2025 results news release dated May
9, 2025.
TELUS also embraces tax morality as a means of further investing
in our communities. Since 2000, TELUS has paid approximately
$61 billion in total tax and spectrum
remittances to our federal, provincial and municipal governments
across Canada, consisting of
corporate income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, employer
portion of payroll taxes, various regulatory fees and spectrum
remittances, including more than $2.3
billion in taxes in 2024 alone. These funds support public
works projects, education, healthcare, cultural pursuits and other
initiatives that improve the social and economic well-being of our
communities.
Since 2000, TELUS, our team members and retirees provided over
$285 million in cash, in-kind
contributions, time and programs and volunteered 4 million hours to
charities and community organizations located in Alberta.
Forward Looking
Statements
This news release contains statements about future events and
plans that are forward-looking, including statements relating to
the amount of TELUS' planned investments and the specific projects
and investments we are pursuing now through 2029. These
forward-looking statements are made based on a number of
assumptions, including assumptions about future economic conditions
and courses of action. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on them as there is significant risk that actual results
may vary materially from these forward-looking statements,
including as a result of risks relating to regulatory decisions and
developments, the competitive environment in which we operate, and
our operating and financial results.
The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject
to the cautionary note and based on the assumptions, qualifications
and risks described in detail in TELUS' 2024 annual Management's
discussion and analysis (MD&A) and first quarter 2025 MD&A,
which are incorporated by reference herein, and in other TELUS
public disclosure documents and filings with securities commissions
in Canada (on SEDAR+ at
sedarplus.ca) and in the United
States (on EDGAR at sec.gov). Forward-looking statements
describe TELUS' expectations and are based on our assumptions as at
the date of this press release and are subject to change. These
statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of
applicable securities laws in Canada and the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except as required by
law, TELUS disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise forward-looking statements.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications
technology company, generating over $20
billion in annual revenue with more than 20 million customer
connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for
consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to
leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes.
TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities
first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and
social capitalism. Our TELUS Health business is enhancing 76
million lives worldwide through innovative preventive medicine and
well-being technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods
business utilizes digital technologies and data insights to
optimize the connection between producers and consumers. Guided by
our enduring 'give where we live' philosophy, TELUS, our team
members and retirees have contributed $1.8
billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs
including 2.4 million days of service since 2000, earning us the
distinction of the world's most giving company. For more
information, visit telus.com or follow @TELUSNews on X and
@Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
For more information, please contact:
TELUS
Tricia Lo
TELUS Public Relations
tricia.lo@telus.com
SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.