Canadian Telecommunication companies are partnering with cloud computing companies to compete for the fastest and most reliable 5G coverage.
As the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0, continues to expand its technological ability, Canadian consumers are increasingly eager to get their hands on the latest devices, and more specifically, 5G enabled mobile devices. Due to increasing demand for high-speed telecommunication services, major players in the Canadian Wireless Telecommunication industry have been partnering with cloud computing companies to produce the fastest network possible for consumers across Canada. As a result, Bell Canada, the largest telecommunication company in Canada, has entered into an agreement with Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) to expand the country’s 5G coverage.
This collaboration is expected to make Bell Canada the largest 5G provider across Canada. Currently, Bell Canada’s 5G network is available to an estimated 35.0% of the Canadian population. However, due to this amalgamation, in addition to its capital investment increasing an estimated $5.5 billion, Bell Canada’s 5G network is anticipated to reach nearly 70.0% of the Canadian population by year-end 2021.
Why Amazon?
One of the largest benefits of AWS is its Wavelength Zones. AWS Wavelength Zones are optimal for multi-access edge computing (MEC), which will likely enable next generation devices to minimize latency and send data at much quicker speeds. Simply put, Wavelength Zones are infrastructure deployments that place AWS compute and storage services within a provider’s datacentre at the edge of their 5G network. This enables data traffic to travel more efficiently by avoiding multiple stops between regional aggregation sites and the internet, which is required due to traditional mobile architectures. The partnership has enabled Bell Canada to become the first Canadian communications company to offer AWS Wavelength Zones to domestic businesses.
Send in the clouds
In addition to increased 5G coverage, Bell Canada is expected to use AWS’s massive portfolio of cloud capabilities to improve its customers’ overall digital experiences. This will also likely enable Bell Canada’s product team to streamline and automate processes, as well as adapting to volatile market conditions and consumer preferences. Additionally, Bell Canada will likely use AWS technologies to upgrade how its voice, television and internet subscribers engage with Bell Canada’s services and content, such as video streaming.
5G uses:
• Immersive gaming
• Ultra-high-definition video streaming
• Self-driving vehicles
• Smart manufacturing
• Augmented reality
• Machine learning inference
• Distanced learning across Canada
Other telecommunication partnerships
Although Bell Canada is the first Canadian telecommunication company to partner with AWS and implement its Wavelength Zone infrastructure, other major players within the industry have also partnered with large cloud service providers in attempts to expand their own 5G coverage. For example, in February 2021, Telus Corporation (Telus), signed a 10-year agreement with Google Cloud Platform to expand Telus’s 5G coverage and improve its core IT and network infrastructure. In addition, in April 2020, Rogers Wireless Inc. (Rogers) partnered with Microsoft Azure and Attabotics to expand its private long-term evolution (LTE) and 5G networks across Canada.
This increase in partnerships within the Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Carriers industry is expected to continue as companies seek to have the most reliable 5G coverage across Canada. At the same time, telecommunication companies will likely continue to innovate to provide the best and most reliable broadband connections for all Canadian consumers.
