The 5G Canada 2019 Conference kicked off today in Ottawa, Ontario, hosted by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), the industry group representing telcos in the country. The conference aims to discuss what 5G networks will mean for Canada.
Opening the conference was CWTA President and CEO Robert Ghiz, who said in his welcome remarks for Canada to have successful 5G networks, it will require collaboration from wireless stakeholders.
Ghiz reiterated results from an OpenSignal study which called Canada a “global 4G superpower”, while also saying “Investments in innovation made by our facilities-based carrier members – now close to $50 billion and counting in capital expenditures – are meeting this ever-increasing demand for high speed connectivity by providing Canadians with world-class wireless service.”
Wireless networks have become relied upon by both consumers and businesses, with no signs of demand slowing down. CWTA-commissioned studies claim next-generation 5G wireless networks could “add hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and as much as $40 billion in incremental GDP to Canada’s economy by 2026.”
“Our facilities-based carriers have worked to position Canada at the forefront of 4G world and pave the way for the arrival of 5G in our country,” said Mr. Ghiz.
“Collaboration building off of today’s conference will be key to maintaining Canada as a world leader in the wireless sector. It is only through collaboration that we will be able to take advantage of all the opportunities that 5G can deliver,” added the president.
Participants at the 5G Canada 2019 Conference include executives from Bell, Rogers, Freedom Mobile, Shaw, Ericsson, Qualcomm, Nokia, BlackBerry and IBM, among others. Telus is not at the conference, as they pulled out of the CWTA in 2014.
