Telus pledged to invest CAD70 billion ($50.6 billion) to boost its network infrastructure and operations across Canada over the next five years, an outlay it said comes as the country navigates a challenging economic environment.
The operator stated it would use the investment to enhance connectivity, support AI leadership and fuel economic growth, adding it would place focus on improving coverage in rural areas, support sovereign data factories and further push environmentally friendly technologies.
The operator’s commitment comes as Canada attempts to deal with a difficult geopolitical landscape, with US President Donald Trump placing high tariffs on the country.
Through to 2029, Telus made numerous commitments, outlining plans to launch two sovereign AI factories, expand its fibre connectivity play to homes and businesses across the nation, boost 5G and LTE coverage and bridge the country’s digital divide through a number of initiatives.
In total, the company stated it has invested more than CAD276 billion since 2000 in its operations.
Darren Entwistle, president and CEO of Telus, said the investment would help to unleash “Canada’s full economic potential in the years to come”.
He added the spend “is a cornerstone of Canada’s competitiveness on the global stage, driving critical transformation change and advancing leadership in Canadian AI sovereignty, innovation and development”.