As far as the adoption of the latest generation of mobile internet goes, Canada has been a fairly fast adopter. However, in many areas, technology still remains something of a pipe dream. Many providers have been slow to ensure a true 5G connection, with residents across Canada – including right here in Alberta – struggling to get consistent high-speed access.
In this modern, interconnected world, falling behind your neighbours in the blanket rollout of 5G availability is unthinkable. The global pandemic of 2020 saw industries worldwide turn to remote working and introduced many to a whole new way of life. Absolutely everything became internet-based and while we were restricted to our homes at that time, that has led to a mobile revolution.
So what does slow 5G rollout across the Canadian provinces mean for our country’s economy and how has the world necessitated constant mobile connectivity?
Entertainment On-the-Go One of 5G’s Biggest Drivers
Probably the biggest use case for 5G is the entertainment industry. We no longer live in a world where people are happy to simply sit either at home, in a cinema, or at a dedicated venue to enjoy their entertainment. The average Canadian now needs their fun to fit in their pocket and be accessible anywhere they go.
A great example of this is the online casino – or iGaming – industry. Brands now must ensure that their sites are fully optimised for mobile devices to attract players. Looking at Karamba casino in Canada, all of their games – including live dealer games – are all available using a mobile device’s browser. The ease with which players can play the games without downloading an app is a selling point.
It’s not only casino gaming, either, though. Much has been said about the shift away from physical media like DVDs, CDs, and records. However, even digital storage methods like MP3 players are now obsolete due to the proliferation of mobile internet. It has revolutionised the way people interact with movies and music, as everybody can have an endless library with them on the go in Spotify playlists and Netflix watchlists.
What is the Holdup for Canadian Mobile Internet?
Massive tech infrastructure projects are always going to be slow-moving to an extent. It is impossible to invest so much into ensuring the majority of a nation of 40 million people has access to it without seeing delays or pleasing everyone. As such, it is important to recognise the sheer magnitude of the undertaking here.
However, the main sticking point for Canadian 5G appears to be the availability of banned technology. According to Business Intelligence for B.C., carrier Telus is scoring low on 5G availability as of 2024 and that is because of a government ban on Huawei tech. Despite claiming to have 87% 5G coverage, the provider is experiencing customer unhappiness on a wide scale.
At the start of rolling out 5G in Canada, Telus was known to be using Huawei technology in infrastructure upgrades. However, since then, the Canadian government’s ban on the Chinese company’s products appears to have slowed the carrier’s ability to deliver high-quality connectivity.
Canadians Deserve Better From Providers
Ultimately, it appears that the pains that Canadians are feeling when it comes to the 5G rollout are not necessarily due to policy or a lack of investment. Instead, it feels as if a strong chunk of the population is being let down by coverage providers and carriers.
There’s no doubt that there has been significant growth in the territory covered by high-speed mobile internet across the country. Though, what is evident is a battle between what customers want, what providers can source, and the profit margins of business leaders. Because of that, it’s hard to help, feeling as if Canadians are being let down somewhere along the way.
If we are to avoid being left behind by our peers on the world stage, there needs to be some compromise somewhere along the provider-to-infrastructure development pipeline. If that doesn’t happen, customers and local businesses will be the ones feeling the pain.