AUGUST 12, 2022
TELUS investing $105 million in Vancouver connecting customers to PureFibre and 5G networks
TELUS investing $17.5 billion across B.C. now through 2026 in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum - creating 5,500 new jobs for British Columbians.
Vancouver, B.C. – TELUS is investing $105 million in Vancouver this year as part of its $17.5 billion investment in infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across British Columbia through 2026. These investments will connect more local homes and businesses to the PureFibre network and expand access to TELUS’ 5G network.
“This generational $17.5 billion investment in British Columbia is a true demonstration of TELUS’ long-standing commitment to improving the lives of Canadians by connecting communities from coast-to-coast with our world-leading wireless 5G and PureFibre networks,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Our broadband technology is supporting critical, transformational change as we enable online healthcare, education and teleworking flexibility, accelerating Canada’s digital economy and society for heightened productivity, competitiveness and human welfare outcomes in the post-pandemic period. Importantly, through our investment, we are supporting the social and economic vibrancy of British Columbia and ensuring that every member of our society has access to the technology that yields the opportunity to realize their full potential.”
These investments are critical to providing Canadians with access to superior technology that connects customers to the people, resources and information that make their lives better. TELUS is steadfast in its commitment to using technology, team member-led innovation, and human compassion to address the most important societal challenges of this generation and bringing real solutions to the residents of B.C.
Since 2000, TELUS’ team members and retirees provided more than $115 million in cash contributions and volunteered more than 1 million hours of service in support of charities and community organizations located in Vancouver. TELUS’ team members and retirees also provided over $250 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs and volunteered 7 million hours to charities and community organizations located in British Columbia, including giving more than $40 million in cash and in-kind contributions in 2021 alone.
Earlier this year, TELUS announced the expansion of the
TELUS Vancouver and Coastal Community Board
to support even more communities across the province. Since 2005, B.C. Community Boards have given $13 million in cash donations to local charities. TELUS also launched the TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund
, offering grants up to $50,000 for Indigenous-led social, health, and community programs. In 2021, TELUS Health for Good partnered with Indigenous-led health organization, Kilala Lelum to provide primary health care & cultural care services to Indigenous individuals living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Since 2018, TELUS Health for Good program has provided nearly 20,000 patient visits throughout 8 communities in British Columbia.
"Through partnership and support from TELUS, Kilala Lelum's well-equipped and expertly staffed mobile health clinic has been able to meaningfully connect with people to provide timely, culturally safe and trauma-informed care,” said Dr. David Tu, Medical Director, Kilala Lelum. “It has prevented health crisis from ever happening, and promoted greater health, wellness, and social stability."
Across British Columbia, TELUS’ significant investment of $17.5 billion now through 2026 also includes:
- Generating new jobs to support B.C.’s growing economy
Hiring 5,500 British Columbians with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies at TELUS through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026. - Connecting over 1.6 million homes in B.C.
TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across B.C. including Coquitlam, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation), Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Parksville, Prince George, Saanich, Squamish, and Sydney. PureFibre is B.C.'s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches more than 1.6 million homes and businesses across the province. The symmetrical upload and download Internet speeds and nearly infinite bandwidth enabled only by PureFibre means everyone can work, stream, game, or make video calls at the same time. - Delivering 5G to remote communities
With the rollout of the 3.5 GHz spectrum later this year, Canadians in B.C. will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. British Columbians living in some rural and remote communities are also some of the first in the country to access home Internet speeds of 100 Mbps through TELUS’ 5G fixed wireless network, using the capabilities of 5G to provide a powerful alternative to a wired Internet connection. - 5G Core and Multi-Access Edge Computing
TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities that will further advance IoT and industry solutions that will enable important innovations for businesses and sectors, including health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing. - Creating a greener B.C. and planet through virtualization
As a global leader in sustainability, the2021 Sustainability Reportoutlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping British Columbians transition to a sustainable future through the digitization of the economy, including optimizing energy consumption at home and reducing food waste through its TELUS Agriculture solutions.
Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $57 billion in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum in B.C. The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2022, released in the fourth quarter of 2021 earnings release dated February 10, 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements about future events and plans that are forward-looking, including relating to TELUS’ infrastructure investment plans. By their nature, forward-looking statements require TELUS to make assumptions and predictions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is significant risk that the forward-looking statements will not prove to be accurate. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of factors (such as regulatory decisions and developments, the competitive environment in which we operate, our operating and financial results and our ability to carry out financing activities) could cause actual capital and operating expenditures to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
Accordingly, this news release and the forward-looking statements made in it are subject to the cautionary note and qualified by the assumptions, qualifications and risk factors referred to in TELUS’ 2021 and first quarter 2022 Management’s discussion and analysis, which are incorporated by reference herein, and in other TELUS public disclosure documents and filings with securities commissions in Canada (on SEDAR at sedar.com) 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. Except as required by law, TELUS disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements.
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