SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

TELUS and the Government of British Columbia Celebrate new wireless connectivity in Port Clements

Vancouver, B.C. - Today, TELUS and the Government of British Columbia’s Minister of Citizen’s Services Jinny Sims celebrated a new digital era in the Village of Port Clements. In March, TELUS completed construction on a $500,000 cell tower to bring wireless service to the Village for the very first time. Now, residents, visitors and local businesses have access to high-speed wireless voice and Internet services over 4G LTE.

“Hearing from local residents about how this new connectivity has changed their lives for the better has been incredible,” said Roberta Squire, TELUS general manager for Northern B.C. “All citizens deserve the opportunity to thrive in our digital world, regardless of where they live, and since March, local families and businesses have had connectivity in the Village for the first time. This has had a profound impact on how residents are able to stay in touch with their family and friends, conduct business, and access services previously unavailable such as consulting with a physician through the Babylon by TELUS Health app.”

The Babylon by TELUS Health app complements existing healthcare services across the province, particularly for people living in rural areas, those living with mobility issues, or those who are unable to access non-emergency healthcare on evenings, weekends or holidays, and for those five million Canadians who do not have a family physician. With the free downloadable Babylon by TELUS Health app, British Columbians have access to a sophisticated symptom checker, and can schedule a video consultation with a licenced B.C. physician from the comfort of their home or office, all from their smartphone. If the doctor determines the patient requires medication, they are able to file the prescription and send it to the patient’s nearest pharmacy for pick-up.

“Everyone – and every community – deserves to have access to the many opportunities that technology and connectivity bring,” said Minister Sims. “The B.C. government is committed to bringing high-speed internet to communities that don’t have it, and we’re working with the federal government and corporate partners to encourage further investments in cell coverage for underserved communities like those on Haida Gwaii.”

The new site is located at 22 Park Street and represents months of construction work and collaboration with the Village. For this project, TELUS engaged local contractors to support the construction, hiring local equipment, equipment operators and an electrician to help complete construction.

“Cell service brings many opportunities for Port Clements including participation in the Haida Gwaii tourism economy. This improved connectivity also means better support for residents and visitors in emergency situations,” said Parliamentary Secretary Rice. “Importantly, when in Port Clements people can now receive emergency alerts on their cell phone.”

TELUS has received numerous awards for its network superiority in Canada by J.D. Power, H2 Opensignal, PC Mag and just this month was recognized as having Canada’s Best Mobile Network by Ookla.

This investment is part of TELUS’ commitment to invest $4.7 billion throughout British Columbia between 2017 and 2020, at no cost to taxpayers.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information technology company with $14.6 billion in annual revenue and 14.2 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security. We leverage our global-leading technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canada's largest healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers the most innovative business process solutions to some of the world’s most established brands.

Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all Canadians for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired our team members and retirees to contribute more than $700 million and 1.3 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

TELUS Media Relations

Liz Sauvé

[email protected]