The carrier also dropped a new tagline that takes a shot at Bell
Vancouver-based national telecom Telus announced plans to invest $2 billion over the next five years in expanding its broadband infrastructure in Ontario and Quebec.
Telus said the investment was a result of the CRTC’s wholesale fibre framework, which allows internet service providers (ISPs) to access other providers’ fibre infrastructure and resell internet services. Telus’ broadband expansion will complement its wholesale access agreements.
Moreover, Telus says the new fibre infrastructure will serve as the backbone for its 5G wireless network. The carrier also argued that its fibre network will be better for the environment, as it’s more energy efficient and more durable than copper.
The $2 billion investment comes as part of Telus’ larger $70 billion investment covering expansions in multiple provinces, new AI data centres, wireless improvements and more.
Alongside the fibre investment in Ontario and Quebec, Telus revealed a new brand tagline that’s also a direct shot at Bell. Telus says its new tagline, “We’re always building Canada,” reflects its commitment to nation-building through things like infrastructure and services. But to me, it reads like a direct response to Bell’s call that it’s “time to build.”
As part of its ongoing crusade against the CRTC’s wholesale fibre access framework, Bell cut investments in fibre and launched a media campaign accusing the commission of “putting the brakes on building new broadband.” Bell CEO Mirko Bibic said back in February that the company was “not in the business of building fibre for Telus’s benefit.”
So far, Telus has been the odd one out, being one of the few ISPs to support the wholesale fibre access framework. The company quickly took advantage of the new rules to start launching fibre internet plans in Ontario and Quebec using Bell’s fibre network. Meanwhile, most other Canadian ISPs have joined Bell in fighting against the ruling.
Most ISPs raise the core issue that allowing incumbent players like Telus, Bell, and Rogers to use the wholesale fibre framework could hurt smaller players. Some argue that the larger players can leverage their scale to offer incentives like bundle discounts that small providers can’t match. However, the CRTC says it found there will only be a “modest, near-term impact.”
Telus’ plan to build infrastructure in Ontario and Quebec flies in the face of Bell’s claim that the CRTC ruling will hurt broadband investment. However, five years is a long time and it remains to be seen what happens with Telus’ build-out. And with the CRTC wholesale ruling facing various challenges, the broadband landscape could shift again soon.
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