Staying productive and connected while working from home

Stay connected · Apr 10, 2020

As offices temporarily close their doors to help flatten the curve of COVID-19, self-isolating and working from home is becoming the new normal. At TELUS, we are committed to helping you make the most out of this new reality.  We hope that this collection of helpful tips will help address some of your most pressing working from home questions and concerns. 

Maximize your home internet

When it comes to getting the speed you need, the faster and more reliable the better, especially now that you and your family may be online all day and your internet connection is your ‘lifeline’ to the outside world. Having the best internet will reduce day-to-day frustration and stress and provide better performance now when it matters the most. TELUS PureFibre could be your best option if it is available where you live since its fibre optic technology delivers equally fast upload and download speeds.

Ensure smoother video calls

Whether you are using Google Meet, Zoom, Webex or another popular video conferencing tool to stay in touch with colleagues, consistent, symmetrical upload and download speeds have never been more important. In a video call with multiple participants, the higher and more consistent the upload and download speed, the better the reception. Having a strong upload speed ensures that other people can see you more clearly, while a strong download speed will help you see others better.

If you are noticing internet speed issues, log into MyTELUS to see if you can upgrade your internet plan.

Make the most of your internet data

As more of us work from home, our internet data consumption naturally increases. Think of your overall connection as a budget with every family member allocated a portion of it. For example, one Netflix connection uses approximately 15Mb/second of your internet speed. So if you have 3 people watching different Netflix streams, you are using 45Mb/second of your total connection. 

The more you upload, download and streaming content, the more your monthly data usage accumulates. Smart cameras, home assistants like Google Home or Alexa and smart light bulbs also use a small amount of internet speed. It’s  important to ensure that your internet plan has sufficient data allowance each month. Not sure how much monthly data your internet plan includes? You can check by logging into your MyTELUS account. Choosing or upgrading to a plan with unlimited data can ensure that you have peace of mind.

Did you know?

Wi-Fi calling – which uses your mobility call minutes and your home internet data –  is also a reliable way to stay connected if your cellular signal is interrupted. To learn more about WiFi calling and how to set it up on your Apple or Android device, read this support article.

Optimize your home Wi-Fi signal

As your family uses more wireless devices in your home, having a strong, stable and reliable Wi-Fi signal is even more important. To help optimize your home W-Fi signal:

  • Place your modem in a central location to ensure a strong Wi-Fi connection throughout your entire home. If you can’t move your modem, consider adding a mesh Wi-Fi network such as TELUS Boost Wi-Fi to help extend wireless coverage across your home.

  • Protect your modem from interruptions by keeping it away from any devices that might interfere with the signal, and by turning off those that aren’t in use. Things like baby monitors, microwaves, wireless speakers and security cameras can sap or interfere with your Wi-Fi signal.

  • Ensure that your equipment is running the latest software versions for the latest performance upgrades.

  • If you live in a rural area, consider getting TELUS Smarthub, an easy, out-of-the-box home Wi-Fi solution that provides fixed high speed internet access to rural households. Already a Smarthub customer? Try conducting a Wi-Fi speed test near a window on each side of your home, and also on the 2nd floor, where you will likely get a better connection to the nearest cellular site.  

For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to optimize your home TELUS Wi-Fi connection:

Stay safe and secure online

If your den or living room has become your office during the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring that you and your family stay safe online is more important than ever. Especially with the significant growth in cyber criminals taking advantage of people who are adjusting to working from home. Consider subscribing to TELUS Online Security Standard, our online security solution that provides powerful protection for your connected devices, online privacy and personal information. 

Consider adding a home phone

A home phone is a stable and reliable connection that you can depend on while working from home. That means no dropped calls or poor reception, as can occasionally occur when relying on cellular connections. Connecting a speakerphone to your home phone line also makes this an ideal setup for longer conference calls, and frees up your mobile phone so others can easily reach you when needed. TELUS offers affordable Home Phone plans and long distance calling plans to help keep you connected with your family and friends in Canada and all over the world during this challenging time. 

Keep current while you work

Stay connected to your favorite news channels from any room in the house through your smartphone, tablet or Apple TV with the Optik TV app. Offering access to the most live TV content available in western Canada at your fingertips, the Optik TV app is included FREE with your Optik TV subscription. Download in the Apple app store or from Google Play.

Teacher, administrator or staff member?
You may be eligible for Optik TV and other Home Services discounts. View special offer

We’re all in this together

As Canadians navigate the uncharted waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire TELUS team is working hard to keep you connected and protected. We are also utilizing our technology and resources to ensure that we are helping some of the most vulnerable Canadians through expanding our For Good Programs. Together, we are stronger.

Helping Canadian business stay connected to what matters most

Our hearts are with business owners during this challenging time. Learn about the actions and resources we’re offering to help support.

Authored by:
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TELUS
TELUS team
This series of blog posts was created to help our customers and team members stay informed and feel supported during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.