Laying the groundwork for the world’s best 5G network.
What is 5G?
5G is the next generation of wireless network technology. Once fully deployed, it will provide revolutionary levels of speed, ultra-low latency, and the capacity to support more data and devices. This will change the way we live, work and learn, and enable businesses to embrace digital innovation like never before.
Laying the groundwork for the 5G infrastructure
Not all networks are created equal. While many may say they will have 5G, it takes a leader in network innovation to build Canada’s best 5G network. From a wide range of spectrum to a greater cell site density, Bell is using its world-class infrastructure to provide the coverage, reliability and support required to build the network of the future.
Network innovation investment
Bell invests nearly $4 billion each year in Canada’s next generation network infrastructure, including delivering world-class network technologies to businesses, to keep our customers at the forefront of the 5G revolution.
Spectrum
A wide range of spectrum is needed to enable higher speeds and capacity. Bell has tremendous spectrum assets in the low-, mid-, and high- frequency bands in both urban and remote locations.
Density of cell sites
When it comes to developing 5G, coverage is key. With Bell you get access to more cell towers than you do with the next largest network operator.
Fibre
5G is backed by fibre, one of the world’s best network technology, to transmit data from cell sites to the network core. This brings faster and more reliable network connectivity, enabling low-latency applications. Bell has Canada's largest fibre-optic network with more than 240,000 total kilometres – providing Canada’s best foundation for 5G.
Network professionals
Bell has dedicated teams to help enhance and implement world-class network solutions:
- 7,600 network employees are continuously working to optimize our network, all with the shared goal of providing Canadians with the absolute best, most advanced mobile experience
- 3,000+ certified professionals with expertise to design, build and deploy Internet of Things (IoT) solutions
- 1,200 professional service specialists have experience in business process assessment, solution design and deployment
Why the future with 5G is transformational
5G technology will be capable of enabling (theoretical) speeds that are up to 6x faster than LTE. This means large files can be downloaded in seconds, videos can be streamed in the highest resolution, and users will benefit from an overall better experience.
5G will also provide faster Internet speeds to business users in remote areas that currently don’t have access to fibre technology.
5G will increase the capacity of connected devices by 1000x (from 1,000/km2 to 1 million per km2). This is particularly significant for Internet of Things deployments, such as smart cities, with capability to support millions of connected devices.
Plus, with increased data network capacity, overall speeds and connectivity are expected to be maintained, even during peak hours, regardless of how large an event or deployment.
5G will enable the fastest wireless device connection, near real time, with lower latency. This opens up possibilities for new solutions or technologies on the mobile network where low latency and better reliability are a must.
Enhancing the future with 5G.
5G will improve existing solutions in revolutionary ways, while enabling the development of transformative new applications.
Wireless fixed broadband
To help meet the growing demand for connectivity, fixed wireless broadband already brings fast speeds to remote areas. 5G will open up whole new levels of speed in these communities, enabling a large number of applications in a wide variety of industries and creating entire new workforces.
Smart cities
Municipalities across Canada are adopting IoT technology to help them predict and proactively manage asset performance, impacts of climate, energy management, traffic congestion, citizen safety and engagement.
With the growing need for connectivity and the shift towards the implementation of IoT sensors and solutions, cities will rely on next-generation networks to support smart city advancements.
Mission-critical services
5G will allow first responders who frequently operate in environments where every second truly counts, to make critical decisions in real time, and communicate between teams even faster in new and innovative ways. This includes sharing site conditions through live video, remote access to surveillance cameras to monitor live situations and quicker access to databases.
Autonomous vehicles
Vehicles are becoming increasingly connected with new cars featuring diagnostics, enhanced services (remote unlock, vehicle tracking), and in-vehicle hotspots.
With faster reaction times and better reliability, 5G opens up exciting new opportunities for smart transportation including self-driving vehicles and Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) – the exchange of information between vehicles and objects.
This rapid-fire connectivity could enable communication between traffic lights and autonomous vehicles, facilitate lane merger assists between vehicles, and improve overall safety for vehicles and fleets.
Remote healthcare and surgeries
By quickly and reliably transporting huge data files, 5G will help facilitate new healthcare solutions that will:
- Support increasing patient needs with personalized, preventative and urgent care. For example, wearables and home sensors can remotely monitor patients’ health and alert healthcare providers about potential issues or abnormalities
- Enable centralized patient records to be accessed quickly and maintained efficiently from anywhere
- Improve access to specialized medical professionals and procedures, regardless of location. This can enable highly responsive ecosystems where expertise can be shared among healthcare professionals
Why Bell today
Existing Bell customers will be able to take advantage of 5G, with compatible devices and solutions, enabling them to gain market share and operational efficiencies against those they compete with. And of course, the same companies are already benefiting from access to Canada’s best mobile network.
The best network technologies from Bell
From 5G-ready LTE-M to fibre-to-the-business, Bell is at the cutting edge of the world’s most advanced network technologies and as such is uniquely positioned to help businesses do more and make more. Enhancing and expanding existing 4G LTE solutions with 5G will result in business leaders in their fields leading by more as they seize the opportunity of first mover advantage, resulting from being with the 5G first mover.
Bell already offers the below and this lead will only grow with 5G: