Ontario and Quebec are partnering with major digital technology providers to construct a corridor of 5G wireless test beds throughout the two most populated provinces in Canada.
The goal of the $400-million public-private investment is to bring technological innovation to Canadian businesses — by allowing established players and startups to experiment with new products and innovative ideas within geographic concentrations of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions.
What is 5G?
5th generation wireless systems (5G) offer performance as high as 20 gigabits per second, said to be up to ten times faster than current 4G networks. As well as promising faster download speeds, 5G is also expected to usher in lower latency, which is the time it takes for the item to actually start downloading.
The development is a further sign of Canada’s commitment to place itself as a leader in new technologies, particularly with the promotion of startups offering connected services. The U.S., South Korea, Japan and China are also racing to establish hub areas with 5G services. Those who establish first are most likely to be ahead of this next-generation series of technological developments.
Public-private partnership to power new network
The project is called ‘Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Quebec and Ontario for Research and Innovation’ — or ENCQOR for short.
According to The Globe and Mail, the two provincial governments will provide $67 million, with the remainder coming from five private-sector partners, including:
- Ericsson
- Ciena Canada
- Thales Canada
- IBM Canada
- CGI
The partners will work with provincial coordinators Prompt, CEFRIO, and Ontario Centers of Excellence.
Over the course of five years, the money will go towards supporting 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises connecting to the advanced 5G platform. Other parts of the funding will go towards providing support in terms of research and technology.
5G could power smart cities and streets
Discussing the new plans, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains told City News that the types of developments that companies could usher under the 5G arrangements cover the expanse from:
- autonomous vehicles
- smart cities
- improved traffic control and reducing accidents
- retail innovations, like food deliveries
- smart home technologies
“5G is the gateway to the future and we are just on the brink of this technological revolution,” says Bains. He said the news will help strengthen employment, with more than 4,000 jobs being created of which 1,800 of which will be specialized in 5G systems.
