The IT Nerd

TELUS is celebrating youth across Canada by launching the Friendly Future Makers Awards, inviting Canadians to nominate the Friendly Future Maker in their life who is creating long-lasting change in their community. Canadians can nominate a Friendly Future Maker aged 13-19 at telus.com/YouthAwards. Nominees will be entered to win one of six prize packs worth $7,000, which includes $5,000 for an RESP or to help fund their initiative, a $1,000 TELUS gift card, and a $1,000 donation to the registered charity of their choice. Inspired by TELUS’ long standing promise, Let’s make the future friendly, this nationwide callout continues that momentum and helps empower Canadian youth who are helping make the world a better place. The Friendly Future Makers Awards are open for nominations until September 26, and winners will be announced online October 24. 

As the global leader in social purpose, TELUS is using its technology to address some of today’s most pressing challenges, including building the local health and well-being of communities, bridging digital divides and actively addressing climate change. To continue to drive meaningful, innovative change, one winner will be chosen, by a panel of judges, from each of the TELUS’ social purpose focused categories:

• Connection Enabler  – helping build human connections through being a mentor or volunteering at a local seniors home
• Community Builder  – giving back to those who need it most by volunteering in your neighbourhood or through small acts of kindness
• Health & Wellness Helper  – caring for the mental and/or physical health of your community through care packages or checking in on your neigbours 
• Hunger Hero – helping to feed communities through neighbourhood gardens or food drives
• Planet Protector – giving back to protect the planet through picking up litter or recycling
• Future Friendly Maker –  creating change in your community to make the future friendly, outside of the five categories or across multiple categories

The Friendly Future Makers Awards are just one of many ways TELUS is continuing to invest in youth. Helping create meaningful change by bridging digital divides, TELUS’ Connecting for Good programs provide subsidized or free Internet and mobility services, helping ensure that youth from care, as well as children from low-income households can stay safely and reliably connected to the people, resources and tools that matter most. TELUS Wise, a free digital literacy program, offers informative workshops and resources helping more than 525,000 Canadians – including youth from across the country – stay safe in our digital world, while TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and TELUS Community Boards also fund more than 500 charities annually focused on helping Canadian youth thrive in a digital world.

Since 2000, TELUS has been a global leader in social capitalism, committing $1.4 billion to support charities and grassroots community organizations around the world, while also volunteering 1.8 million days of  service. Each year, TELUS supports more than 4,000 charities and community organizations worldwide.

To learn more about the Friendly Future Makers Awards and to nominate an inspiring youth giving back in your community, visit telus.com/YouthAwards. 

The TELUS Pollinator Fund will be back with Spring Activator to launch their first Women-led Impact INvestor Challenge. This will help support the growth of women running impact-focused businesses and also support new investors in the venture space.

Early-stage women-led startups across Canada, and new investors or those interested in impact investing can apply. Details can be found in this blog post here: https://spring.is/news/spring-activator-launches-women-led-impact-investor-challenge/

TELUS has announced a $10 million investment across the City of Leduc in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. 

Earlier this year, TELUS announced it is using the power of its Smart Hub technology and  award-winning 5G network to bring rural Canadians in B.C. and Alberta home Internet speeds up to 100 Mbps. Residents in Leduc were among the first in the country to access these ultrafast home Internet speeds, which is up to four times faster than speeds currently available through a 4G network. With these faster 5G Internet speeds, customers in Leduc can simultaneously stream their favourite shows, game, surf the web, make video calls, and work or learn remotely.

TELUS’ commitment to Alberta extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. Since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees have provided over $198 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs and volunteered 3.2 million hours to charities and community organizations located in Alberta.

Across Alberta, TELUS’ significant investment of $17 billion now through 2026 also includes:

• Creating new jobs to support Alberta’s growing economy Hiring 8,500 Albertans with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026.
  
• Connecting nearly 1 million homes in Alberta TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across Alberta including in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Lloydminster, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert. PureFibre is Alberta’s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches nearly 1 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 3.5 GHz spectrum additions later this year, Albertans will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. Albertans 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.
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla® for the ninth consecutive time.
    
• 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.
  • Our network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.
    
• Contributing to a greener Alberta and planet  As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us 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. 
  • The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Albertans to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
  • To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly the size of Red Deer. 
    
• Supporting Alberta’s Agriculture Industry TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Alberta, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $60 billion in Alberta over the past century. 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.

TELUS announced today a $220 million investment across the City of Edmonton in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. 

TELUS’ commitment to Edmonton extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. Since 2000, TELUS along with its team members and retirees have provided more than $48 million in cash and program contributions, and volunteered more than 1.4 million hours of service in support of charities and community organizations located in Edmonton.

Across Alberta, TELUS’ significant investment of $17 billion now through 2026 also includes:

• Creating new jobs to support Alberta’s growing economy Hiring 8,500 Albertans with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026.
  
• Connecting nearly 1 million homes in Alberta TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across Alberta including in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Lloydminster, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert. PureFibre is Alberta’s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches nearly 1 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 3.5 GHz spectrum additions later this year, Albertans will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. Albertans 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.
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla® for the ninth consecutive time.
    
• 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.
  • Our network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.
    
• Contributing to a greener Alberta and planet As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us 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. 
  • The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Albertans to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
  • To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly the size of Red Deer. 
    
• Supporting Alberta’s Agriculture Industry TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Alberta, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $60 billion in Alberta over the past century. 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.

TELUS Health, together with the National Institute on Ageing (NIA), released the findingsfrom a new survey that sheds light on how older Canadians can be better supported to age well, safely and independently. The 2022 survey of Canadian healthcare practitioners (HCPs) demonstrates the need to prioritize conversations surrounding innovative solutions to enable ageing-in-place: 95 per cent of HCPs surveyed discussed emergency situations with patients at least once in a month; however only 11 per cent of those discussions included the use of Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) technology, which is known to provide added safety and support.

The survey of 125 Canadian healthcare professionals, conducted by MD Analytics between December 2021 and January 2022, discovered that 89 per cent of general practitioners and nurses are unlikely to discuss PERS unprompted. In many cases, HCPs are unaware of the rapidly evolving technological solutions that can help better enable their patients to age-in-place, and which to recommend. Proactive discussions during in-person or virtual appointments, whether directly with a patient and/or their caregiver, are key for ensuring ageing adults have the support they need to live in greater safety and independently for as long as possible.

This year’s survey findings also reaffirm previous research findings from TELUS Health and the NIA — 99 per cent of Canadian older adults plan to stay as active as they can to maintain their optimal health and independence, but the lack of discussions about available innovative support signals further education is needed. TELUS Health continues to empower HCPs and other medical professionals to support their ageing patients with knowledge and resources about the latest innovations, such as PERS like LivingWell Companion and TELUS Health Companion on Apple Watch.

The NIA leads cross-disciplinary research to better understand issues and develop insights that can meaningfully contribute to shaping innovative policies, practices and products to address challenges and opportunities for Canada’s ageing population. It is dedicated to enhancing successful ageing across the life course, considering a broad range of perspectives, including those of financial, physical, psychological, and social wellness.

Together, TELUS Health and the NIA are proud to collaborate to empower Canadians and HCPs alike with the knowledge and tools to enable Canadians to live safely, independently, and longer in their own homes if they so choose, as they age.

I have added an infographic that supplies some key information:

Today, TELUS, Westbank and Allied are celebrating the opening of TELUS Sky, TELUS’ new state of the art headquarters in Downtown Calgary. This impressive landmark stands 60-storeys tall and brings 750,000 square feet of office and retail space including 326 rental homes to Calgary’s downtown core, creating a unique and dynamic blend of working and urban living. Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards – the highest LEED certification – TELUS Sky is one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally-friendly sites in North America. With the completion of TELUS Sky, TELUS now occupies the largest LEED Platinum footprint in North America including TELUS Garden in Vancouver, TELUS Harbour Toronto, TELUS House Ottawa, and Place TELUS Québec. Powered by purpose, TELUS is a global leader in sustainability with the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

Designed by world-renowned architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Dialog, along with developer partner Westbank and Allied, TELUS Sky features Canada’s largest public art display integrated into the building’s façade: Northern Lights by iconic Canadian author and artist, Douglas Coupland, which dance across the building’s exterior providing a light show in Downtown Calgary for locals and visitors. 

TELUS Sky’s unique features include: 

• A storm water management system that recycles rainwater for use in washroom toilets and urinals, reducing the building’s municipal water demand by 70 per cent. 
• A thermal energy system designed to efficiently transport hot water through an underground network of insulated pipes across the city, resulting in a 30 per cent reduction in heating energy demand.
• 100 per cent fresh air ventilation with operable windows and exterior terraces – even on office floors. 
• Windows designed with robust envelope and triple-pane glazing to decrease solar transmission and promote greater shading within the building, contributing to a 35 per cent reduction in building energy use compared to similar size developments.
• A living green wall in the 11-storey atrium to improve air quality and provide occupants and visitors with a connection to natural elements.
• A direct connection to TELUS’ PureFibre network, ensuring tenants, businesses, guests, and office workers have access to the fastest most capable Internet network available in western Canada.
• Comprehensive fitness facilities including a wellness centre with a yoga and barre room, on-site secure bicycle storage, and electric vehicle charging stations. 

Situated in the heart of the downtown district, TELUS Sky has transformed the city’s skyline and will contribute to Calgary’s growing tech community and vibrant cultural landscape, symbolically representing TELUS’ commitment to Alberta’s economic prosperity, sustainability, and health well into the future. Throughout the project’s development over the last nine years, TELUS Sky supported the local economy by creating more than 1,000 jobs, and as of today, the building will be home to more than 1,600 local TELUS team members.

Earlier this week, TELUS announced a $430 million investment across the City of Calgary in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. TELUS’ dedication to Calgary extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. Since 2000, TELUS along with its team members and retirees in Alberta have gifted $200 million dollars and 3.2 million volunteer hours across the province.

UPDATE: During the grand opening event this morning, Premier Jason Kenney remarked on the dedication that TELUS has shown to this province and called on other comparable companies to start making a difference, too. He joked to Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS, to consider making Alberta and, more specifically, TELUS Sky, it’s homebase, inciting a hearty laugh from attendees.   

TELUS announced today the investment of $23 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across Ontario over the next four years and has committed to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026. 

These significant investments include:

• Generating new jobs to support Ontario’s growing economy
  Generating 9,500 jobs in Ontario over five years, with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies.
• Delivering 5G to remote communities
  With the rollout of the 3.5GHz spectrum through 2022 and 2023, Ontarians will have enhanced access to TELUS’ 5G network through an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. 
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla for the ninth consecutive time.

• 5G Core and Multi-Access Edge Computing
  TELUS will introduce its 5G standalone network later this year and bring multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities further advancing IoT and industry solutions and enabling important innovations in health, agriculture, energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
  • The TELUS network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimization of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.

• Supporting Ontario’s agriculture industry

TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Ontario, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

• Contributing to a greener Ontario and planet

As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us 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. 

• The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Canadians to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
• To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly five times the size of Killbear Provincial Park. 

From 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $57 billion in technology and operations in Ontario. These investments are consistent with TELUS’ capital expenditure guidance for 2022, released in the fourth quarter of 2021 earnings release dated February 10, 2022.

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 Ontario and across Canada.

TELUS also embraces tax morality as a means of further investing in our communities. Since 2000, TELUS has paid approximately $51 billion in total tax and spectrum remittances to our federal, provincial and municipal governments across Canada, consisting of corporate income taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, employer portion of payroll taxes, various regulatory fees and spectrum remittances, including more than $2.2 billion in taxes in 2021 alone. These funds support public works projects, education, healthcare, cultural pursuits and other initiatives that improve the social and economic well-being of our communities.

TELUS’ innovative approach to leveraging technology in healthcare has supported 22 million Canadians to receive care where and when they need it with virtual visits through the TELUS Health MyCare app, giving Canadians the tools they need to see a doctor or therapist from the safety and comfort of home, directly from their smartphone.   

Since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees provided over $128 million in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs and volunteered 1 million hours to charities and community organizations located in Ontario.

TELUS has announced a $430 million investment across the City of Calgary in 2022 as part of its $17 billion investment in operations, network infrastructure, and spectrum across the province now through 2026, creating 8,500 new jobs for Albertans and connecting more families and businesses to TELUS’ world-leading 5G and TELUS PureFibre networks. 

This week, TELUS is also celebrating the opening of TELUS Sky, TELUS’ new state of the art headquarters in downtown Calgary. Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum standards – the highest LEED certification – TELUS Sky is one of the most technologically innovative and environmentally-friendly sites in North America. This $400 million development continues TELUS’ legacy of making powerful contributions to advance the economic strength and social vitality of both the city of Calgary and the province of Alberta.

TELUS’ dedication to Calgary extends well beyond investments in operations and infrastructure. 

Since 2000, TELUS along with its team members and retirees have provided over $61 million in cash and program contributions, and volunteered more than 1 million hours of service in support of charities and community organizations located in Calgary.

Across Alberta, TELUS’ significant investment of $17 billion now through 2026 also includes:

• Creating new jobs to support Alberta’s growing economy Hiring 8,500 Albertans with a focus on construction, engineering, and emerging technologies at TELUS and through its vast partner ecosystem now through 2026.
  
• Connecting nearly 1 million homes in Alberta TELUS will connect hundreds of thousands more homes and businesses across Alberta including in Airdrie, Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Lloydminster, Spruce Grove, and St. Albert. PureFibre is Alberta’s only 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network and currently reaches nearly 1 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 3.5 GHz spectrum additions later this year, Albertans will have access to TELUS’ 5G network delivering an ultrafast and reliable wireless connection. Albertans 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.
  
  • TELUS’ global-leading wireless network was rated the fastest mobile network for the eighth consecutive time by UK-based Opensignal, while also earning the title of North America’s Fastest Mobile Network and being named Canada’s Fastest Mobile Network by Seattle-based Ookla® for the ninth consecutive time.
    
• 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.
  
  • The TELUS network and crucial investments will support the digitization of the economy, and our transition to a sustainable future, including through optimisation of energy consumption at home, reduction of food waste or intelligent transport systems that result in fewer emissions.
    
• Contributing to a greener Alberta and planet As a global leader in sustainability, TELUS’ network infrastructure and investments are helping us 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. 
  
• The 2021 Sustainability Report outlines TELUS’ environmental, social, and governance strategy and priorities which includes the ambitious goal to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. Moreover, TELUS’ world-leading wireless and wireline networks enable significant carbon avoidance by providing the networks required for TELUS team members and millions of Albertans to work remotely and avoid commuting; access education, healthcare, and social connections virtually; and enable other businesses to take their workforce virtual leading to less energy consumption in office buildings and fewer commuters on the road. 
  
• To date, TELUS has planted more than 800,000 trees and by the time its millionth tree is planted later this year, it will have planted the equivalent of 20,000 acres of forest, which is nearly the size of Red Deer. 
  
• Supporting Alberta’s Agriculture Industry TELUS Agriculture is investing in integrated data management software, helping to scale animal health technology to deliver valuable insights and enable a more sustainable, responsive food supply chain. With a comprehensive portfolio of grower and advisor solutions, TELUS Agriculture is helping to improve both productivity and profitability for farmers in Alberta, notably with field-specific nutrient management programs aimed at increasing fertilizer efficiency and maximizing yield potential.

Since 2000 through 2021, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $55 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.

TELUS and Google Cloud worked together on a new use case and leveraged the power of Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and 5G to develop a workers’ safety application in their Edmonton Data Center. The solution enables on-premise video analytics cameras to screen manufacturing facilities and ensure compliance with safety requirements to operate heavy-duty machinery. For example, if a worker’s hand is close to a drill, that drill press will not bore holes in any surface until the video analytics camera detects that the worker’s hand has been removed from the safety zone area. The CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras they used are cost-effective and easier to deploy than RTLS (real time location services) solutions that detect worker proximity and avoid collisions. This is a positive, proactive step to steadily improve workplace safety. An example of this can be viewed in this video:

This opportunity is a way for TELUS to tap into their award-winning high speed 5G connectivity to help solve some of the greatest challenges and specifically create safer workplaces with the Connected Worker Safety solution that can be applied across a variety of business verticals – saving lives and preventing injury. Eventually this will be able to enter the market and make TELUS an early adopter of new 5G solutions at the edge, enhancing business and industry partners’ experience in the workplace.

And this is only one example of the many ways that TELUS is working with Google Cloud to create solutions that leverage technology for the better. Recently, TELUS was also awarded with a Google Cloud Customer Award for their introduction of the Contact Centre Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) Insights solution as part of our Voice Call Analytics program (VCA) program. Created to truly transform customers’ experience while unlocking great business and operational value, the tool successfully identifies the true intents and sentiments of customer interactions in TELUS contact centers, and extracts actionable insights using advanced analytics – freeing up agents to focus on more complex challenges and providing more customized service.

With so many Google Cloud integrated programs, TELUS is continuing to dive head first into its digital transformation to create more opportunities to leverage technology and continue their growth into fully integrated Smart Cities.

TELUS is beginning construction this summer working with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) to connect several rural communities directly to the TELUS PureFibre network, anticipating that more than 90% of homes and businesses within the footprint will be connected by the end of 2023. TELUS and the RMWB are investing $21 million to complete this network infrastructure, connecting residents and businesses in Anzac, Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, Conklin Métis, Draper, Fort McKay First Nation, Fort McKay Métis, Fort McMurray First Nation, Gregoire Lake Estates, Janvier Métis, and Willow Lake Métis directly to gigabit Internet speeds while expanding cellular coverage throughout the region. Through this collaboration, the RMWB is contributing $13.2M to the project, representing one of the single largest partnerships between TELUS and a municipality to expand connectivity. This project is part of TELUS’ investment of $17 billion in network infrastructure, operations, and spectrum across Alberta over the next four years, and commitment to investing $70 billion overall across Canada by 2026. 

A 100 per cent pure fibre-to-the-home network means that every part of the TELUS PureFibre network is built with state-of-the-art fibre optics, right up to the connection point at the home or business, ensuring customers have the fastest most capable network available. With the only true all fibre network in Western Canada, TELUS delivers the best network performance available anywhere in the world, including the fastest upload and download speeds.

These investments build upon TELUS’ continued commitment to bring world-class connectivity to communities across the province, providing the technological backbone for Canada’s economic recovery and strength well into the future. Since 2000, TELUS has invested $220 billion nationally in network infrastructure, operations and spectrum, including more than $55 billion in technology and operations in Alberta. TELUS, its team members and retirees have also invested heavily in communities contributing more than $1.35 million and volunteered more than 9,000 hours in support of charities and community organizations located in Wood Buffalo, including the Wood Buffalo Food Bank.