Rogers to expand advanced wireless networks to British Columbians with over $450 million investment
Wireless network to improve safety along highways, power local
businesses and deliver the ultimate mobile video experiences to
customers
VANCOUVER, June 12, 2014 /CNW/ – Rogers Communications, together with
Premier Christy Clark, today announced a planned investment of over
$450 million in British Columbia over the next three years to expand
its wireless network in over 70 communities in the northeast, Interior,
Lower Mainland, and Vancouver Island. As part of this investment,
Rogers will also enhance existing LTE connections with 700 MHz spectrum
to allow customers to access the internet in even more places,
including deep into buildings, elevators and basements. When complete,
Rogers will have invested $2 billion in its network in B.C., including
bringing the world’s leading wireless network technology, LTE, to rural
and urban customers across the province.
“We believe in the growth and future of B.C. and are investing in the
province and local communities,” said Phil Lind, vice chairman and
executive vice president, regulatory, Rogers Communications. “Today’s
commitment to further enhance our network infrastructure will give
British Columbians reliable and consistent access to the latest
technology across the province.”
“The majority of British Columbians use a smartphone at work, school, or
at home – and demand is rising fast,” said Premier Christy Clark. “This
investment means more British Columbians, in more parts of the
province, will have more and better wireless internet access, which
will allow them to stay connected to news, opportunities, and each
other.”
The Rogers wireless network will give more British Columbians reliable
access to emergency services across the province, including along
highways and in remote communities. Mobile data terminals in ambulance,
fire and police vehicles are powered by wireless networks and give
first responders access to police databases, building blueprints and
transmit vital signs on a critically injured patient directly to
doctors so they can give more advanced treatment en route to hospital.
British Columbia’s growing economy, which includes 385,900 small
businesses, relies on network infrastructure to communicate,
collaborate and compete1. The network investment by Rogers will give local industry access to
the latest technology and always-on wireless Internet to fuel growth
and connections to business partners across the province and
internationally. The northeast, which continues to lead the province in
the number of self-employed British Columbians, is identified as a key
region to benefit from the Rogers network expansion2.
Rogers is also meeting consumer demand for data by deploying the latest
wireless internet network technology to over ninety-eight per cent of
B.C’s population. Mobile video alone is expected to account for over
two-thirds of the world’s data traffic by 20183. In British Columbia, over sixty-four per cent of residents own a
smartphone and use it on average 1.7 hours per day to check email
(77%), search online (69%) and stream video (33%)4.
British Columbians already benefit from Rogers LTE, Canada’s fastest
wireless network. These speeds mean people can watch videos on their
phones with limited buffering or delays and nearly immediately access
information and maps online. Rogers has already rolled out 700 MHz
spectrum to communities in Vancouver, offering improved signal quality
in basements, elevators and in buildings with thick concrete walls, and
will continue to expand to other parts of the province.
For more information, visit rogers.com/LTE.
About Rogers Communications
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada’s largest provider of wireless voice and data
communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers of cable
television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers
Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised
shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and
digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).
For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please
visit rogers.com.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, Risks and Assumptions
This release includes “forward-looking information” within the meaning
of applicable securities laws and assumptions concerning future
wireless network investments. We caution that all forward-looking
information is inherently subject to change and uncertainty and that
actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by
the forward-looking information. A number of risks, uncertainties and
other factors could cause actual results and events to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking
information or could cause our current objectives, strategies and
intentions to change, and many of these factors are beyond our control
and current expectation or knowledge. Should one or more of these
risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, our objectives,
strategies or intentions change, or any other factors or assumptions
underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, our actual
results and our plans could vary significantly from what we currently
foresee. Accordingly, we warn investors to exercise caution when
considering statements containing forward-looking information and that
it would be unreasonable to rely on such statements as creating legal
rights regarding our future results or plans. We are under no
obligation (and we expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or
alter any statements containing forward-looking information, the
factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All
of the forward-looking information in this earnings release is
qualified by the cautionary statements herein.
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1 BC Stats. (2013). Small Business Profile 2013. Retrieved from http://www.resourcecentre.gov.bc.ca/pdf/SB_Profile_2013.pdf
2 ibid
3 Cisco. (February 5, 2014). Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast
Update, 2013-2018. Retrieved from: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collateral/service-provider/visual-networking-index-vni/white_paper_c11-520862.html
4 Insights West. (2013, July). Smartphone Trends. Retrieved from http://www.insightswest.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/BCAMASEP_InsightsWest_iamota_SmartphonesForIamota_17Dec2012_updatedPUBLICVERSION_DM.pdf
SOURCE Rogers Communications Inc.
