Collaboration Needed For Canada To Build On Global Wireless Leadership: Ghiz

OTTAWA, Feb. 7, 2018 /CNW/ - Revolutionary new 5G wireless networks will be coming to Canada, and Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) President & CEO Robert Ghiz called today on wireless stakeholders in Canada to work collaboratively to make the arrival and deployment of these new networks a success. Mr. Ghiz made the remarks this morning while opening the 5G Canada Conference, an event where guests and members of the CWTA's 5G Canada Council will share their diverse perspectives on revolutionary, next-generation 5G wireless networks.

"Canadians today enjoy wireless services on networks that are among the fastest and most advanced in the world. Our facilities-based carriers have invested more than $44 billion to deploy the second-largest number of 4G/LTE networks in the world, and offer users, on average, a download speed that is the second-fastest in the world," said Mr. Ghiz, who also noted that LTE networks are deployed in every province and territory in Canada, providing fast 4G/LTE coverage to 97% of Canadians. "5G networks have incredible potential to improve the lives of Canadians no matter where they work and live. If we want Canadians to truly benefit from all 5G has to offer, we need to collaborate, and we need to start now."

Mr. Ghiz highlighted the types of services 5G wireless networks will enable, ranging from autonomous vehicles to significant improvements to agriculture to innovative applications in education and health care, and will offer new opportunities for Canadians in both urban and rural areas. He also noted, however, that 5G networks are very different from the current advanced networks deployed across Canada. The new standards and engineering involved in 5G will require new approaches for deployment and installation, always unique challenges in Canada. The same stakeholders who worked together to create the current world-leading networks in Canada will need to do so again to make 5G's arrival a success for Canadians.

"5G isn't 'just another upgrade'. It is something entirely new. The implications of 5G networks are significant and far reaching for all of us as Canadians," said Mr. Ghiz. "Canadian consumers will want these capabilities. The Canadian economy will need these capabilities. It will play a critical role in positioning Canada for the future. It will be up to governments of all levels, to industry, to our facilities-based carriers – all of us will need to work together to deliver this future."

For more information on the CWTA's 5G Canada Conference and the 5G Canada Council, please visit https://www.cwta.ca/5gcc/.

About CWTA
CWTA is the authority on wireless issues, developments and trends in Canada. It represents companies that provide services and products across the wireless sector. Representing the industry before all levels of government and various regulatory agencies, CWTA actively promotes the industry with the goal of ensuring continued growth of the wireless sector in Canada. CWTA administers a number of initiatives on behalf of its members, including corporate social responsibility programs and the national common short codes program.

About the 5G Canada Council
The 5G Canada Council is administered by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA). This multi-stakeholder Council was founded to serve as a forum to encourage a supportive and dynamic 5G ecosystem in Canada, including the efficient rollout of related technologies. Through research and cross-sector collaboration, the 5G Canada Council will work to identify the common challenges, benefits, and priorities related to the introduction, development and impact of 5G technologies across numerous industries and varied stakeholders.

SOURCE Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association

Media enquiries: For CWTA: Greg Burch, 204-250-9244, [email protected]