JULY 6, 2021
TELUS is investing $9 million to bring 5G to Red Deer this year
Red Deer, AB – TELUS is investing $9 million in Red Deer this year as part of our $14.5 billion investment in infrastructure and operations across Alberta through 2024 to further support the province throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent economic recovery. These investments will create important and tangible social outcomes by enabling Albertans to work, learn, access healthcare, and socialize from home during these unprecedented times. TELUS’ significant investments in Red Deer include:
- Bringing our blistering-fast 5G network speeds to Red Deer utilizing our current spectrum holdings, enabling residents and businesses to access the fastest 5G network in Canada, providing speeds up to 1.7 Gbps. By the end of the year, 153 communities, including 31 First Nations across the province will have access to 5G, contributing to improved health and educational outcomes, enabling our entrepreneurial spirit and unleashing human productivity. It is estimated that 5G will create 250,000 jobs and contribute $150 billion to Canada’s economy over the next 20 years.
- Building new wireless infrastructure in response to the increasing demand for enhanced wireless connectivity throughout the city, ensuring TELUS wireless networks continue to meet and exceed the demands for reliable and fast connectivity in Red Deer.
“TELUS is proud to make this generational investment in Red Deer, providing the technology to connect citizens to loved ones, as well as vital resources and information as we continue to navigate the global pandemic,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. “Now more than ever, TELUS is committed to keeping our citizens and communities connected and productive through our globally leading wireless network, underpinned by our award-winning TELUS PureFibre infrastructure that provides the backbone for our 5G-enabled world. Indeed, across Alberta, the ongoing expansion of our broadband networks, ubiquitously deployed, are bridging time and distance, allowing residents to live and work in any community without compromising productivity or economic opportunity. As we look ahead with optimism to a period of social and economic recovery, our investments are enabling more Albertans with world-best connectivity to work, learn, socialize, access entertainment and transact safely and effectively from their homes.”
TELUS is also supporting small businesses through its second national #StandWithOwners initiative, investing $1 million to promote these vitally important organizations in 2021. Small business owners have demonstrated incredible strength and ingenuity as they pivoted and innovated throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, and TELUS is proudly supporting them with funding, localized advertising, and mentorship as they move forward. To apply, businesses can visit
telus.com/standwithowners
."TELUS and their employees have long been a big part of our communities in Central Alberta,” said Earl Dreeshen, Member of Parliament for Red Deer-Mountain View. “I am pleased to see this week's announcement of such a large-scale investment in Alberta, including $9 million for the Red Deer area.”To support Red Deer throughout the last year, TELUS’ networks helped residents and businesses as we all adapted to new ways of living. As one of the province’s leading private sector employers, TELUS kept our 7,000 Albertan team members employed throughout Covid-19, including our more than 60 local team members right here in Red Deer.
“It’s always exciting to see private investment made in our great community, especially when it's something as cutting-edge and revolutionary as 5G infrastructure,” said Rick More, Chief Executive Officer, Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce. “This investment by TELUS will connect Central Albertans and businesses throughout the world, ensuring we are one of the best places to live, work, and start a business. This will be a critical piece in luring investors and new business growth to Red Deer.”
Since 2000, TELUS, our team members, and retirees have contributed more than $1.1 million and volunteered 99,000 hours in support of charities and community organizations located in Red Deer, including Youth HQ.
“TELUS has been instrumental in supporting our efforts in keeping youth and families connected during these challenging times, enabling us to continue to provide opportunities for children and youth to grow and discover their potential,” said Rob Lewis, Executive Director of Youth HQ.
These investments build upon TELUS’ continued commitment to bring world-leading connectivity to communities across the province, providing the technological backbone for Alberta’s economic recovery and strength well into the future. Since 2000, TELUS has invested nearly $240 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $51 billion in technology and operations in Alberta.
The investments announced in this media release are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2021, released in the fourth quarter of 2020 earnings release dated February 11, 2021.
For more information about our investment in Red Deer, please view this
video
. 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’ 2018 and first quarter 2019 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.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion 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. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.
For more information about TELUS, please visit
telus.com
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on Instagram.For media inquiries, please contact:
Chelsey Rajzer
TELUS Public Relations
TELUS Public Relations
[email protected]