MAY 25, 2023
TELUS invests $5 million in the North Shore region
These investments are paired with a significant contribution from the Government of Quebec and the CRTC, allowing for the deployment of new wireless sites and improving connectivity in remote regions
Havre-Saint-Pierre — TELUS is pleased to announce a $5 million private investment in the North Shore region this year to deploy and update its PureFibre and 5G networks. This investment is paired with the financial contributions of $6.89 million from the Government of Quebec and $4.06 million from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) to add nine new wireless sites in the La Manicouagan and La Minganie RCMs (regional county municipality) to improve connectivity along Route 389 in the north of Baie-Comeau, in Lac Walker, along stretches of road on Route 138 between Sept-Îles and Natashquan and the surrounding municipalities. Planning and preparatory work will begin in 2023 and TELUS plans for the first sites to be operational in 2024.
“Connectivity is a true social and community driver of education, digital health care, and economic possibilities, as well as sustainable and modern agriculture. Most importantly, it empowers our regions to grow, fast-track their environmental transition and promote their attractions,” says Nathalie Dionne, TELUS Interim Vice-President, Home Solutions and Customer Experience, Quebec. “Ten years ago, we began the ambitious deployment of our PureFibre network, which uses the most sustainable technology available. As of last September, 99 per cent of families and businesses in the territory that we serve in Quebec have access to this technology, and we are very proud of that. Although our private investments are crucial, we commend the commitments from the Government of Quebec and the CRTC to improve wireless coverage in these regions.”
“We’re happy to continue with our digital transformation thanks to connectivity from TELUS,” says Léonard Labrie, deputy prefect of the Minganie RCM. “With high-speed connectivity and cellular service, we can encourage entrepreneurship, economic development and the tourist appeal of our region. More importantly, wireless connectivity makes our roads safer and allows us to improve emergency services. Each improvement in the region represents a concrete step toward a more dynamic and prosperous North Shore.”
“It’s excellent news for our citizens,” says Michel Desbiens, mayor of Baie-Comeau. “This type of connectivity is indispensable nowadays, whether it’s for work from home, distance learning or access to virtual health care, at home or out and about. Now we don’t have to be envious of big cities any more on this point.”
Ongoing investments for a better future
TELUS plans to invest $81.2 billion in Canada by 2027, including $11.5 billion in the Quebec economy, for its infrastructure, operations and spectrum licensing, and to improve the coverage, speed and reliability of its world-class networks.
In addition to these significant investments, the TELUS team is driven by a desire to bring positive social changes to the communities where it operates. Since 2000, TELUS and its active and retired team members have given over 6,500 volunteer hours and $450,000 in cash contributions to support local organizations such as Maison des familles de Baie-Comeau in providing community perinatal care and offering supervision for access rights across the North Shore territory. Also, through its Connecting for Good programs, TELUS has enabled more than 20,500 vulnerable people in Quebec to have access to technologies and stay connected to what matters most to them. TELUS team members in the region have also taken part in National Volunteer Week, in partnership with Centres d’action bénévole du Québec, and actively participate in TELUS Days of Giving by cleaning up neighbourhood parks, providing career advice to young people, giving groceries to neighbours in need and supporting local charities.
The investments announced in this news release reflect TELUS’ overall capital expenditure guidance for 2023, which was released on February 9, 2023, during the company’s fourth financial quarter of 2022.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains statements about future events and plans that are forward-looking, including statements relating to TELUS’ infrastructure, operations and spectrum investment plans, anticipated connections to our PureFibre network footprint, and our environmental targets. These forward-looking statements are made based on a number of assumptions and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them as there is a 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 a cautionary note and based on the assumptions, qualifications and risks described in detail in TELUS’ management reports for 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, 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. 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 neither intends nor is obligated to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this document.
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