Robust and Resilient: Canada’s Telecom Networks in Focus

STAC Conference 2023

Robert Ghiz, CWTA President & CEO kicked off the STAC conference in Ontario yesterday with opening remarks both in English and French. Ghiz entitled his speech: “Robust and Resilient: Canada’s Telecom Networks in Focus” and spoke on the strength and resiliency of Canada’s telecommunications infrastructure.

He opened by expressing thanks for the billions of dollars facilities-based service providers invest each and every year and how Canadians benefit from world-class telecommunications networks.

“I know it’s also thanks to all you here today that those networks are strong enough to handle the surging demand for data we’ve seen over the last few years,” Ghiz said. “ According to PwC research CWTA commissioned last fall, the telecommunications sector invested $12.3 billion in capital expenditures in 2021 alone. This represents 19 percent of the sector’s annual revenue, a number that’s higher in Canada than the average across all G7 countries plus Australia. Facilities-based wireless providers alone invested $3.45 billion in capital expenditures to help expand and enhance their networks in 2021. That was on top of the $8.9 billion spent on acquiring mid-band spectrum licenses. And let’s not forget the $9.25 billion invested in high-speed broadband networks.” 

Those investments, according to Ghiz, supported the employment of more than 650,000 Canadian workers across industry sectors in 2021 and were also responsible for an estimated $74.9 billion direct contribution to Canada’s GDP, according to PwC. 

Regarding the industry’s response to severe outages throughout the country, Ghiz said Canada’s service providers have made it a priority to improve the resiliency of their network infrastructure and further strengthen their preparedness for extreme weather and natural disasters. Hurricane Fiona, for example, was the most extreme weather event ever recorded in Atlantic Canada, and the worst-ever hurricane in Canada. 

“Its impact on Atlantic Canada was unprecedented,” Ghiz said. “As an Islander, I witnessed the effect it had on my family, my neighbors, and my community. Homes were lifted off their foundations and wind tore roofs off buildings. Trees and utility poles were uprooted while others snapped in half, leaving over 80,000 electricity customers without power in PEI alone, equal to roughly 95% of the island. Many were without power for days.”

But thanks to the investments and hard work of the wireless infrastructure industry, Ghiz said the networks survived and services were restored in days, not weeks. He cited pre-storm preparations taken by association member companies that included:

• Activation of internal emergency response plans and processes.
• Proactive network reviews to resolve any outstanding issues.
• Inspection of fiber and cable routes and where possible removal of trees and limbs that posed risks.
• Stoppage of any non-essential network changes to avoid disruptions.

“We know that so many of you have assisted in this type of recovery project, and I think you all deserve a round of applause for your work to help keep Canadians connected in times of need,” Ghiz said.