CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Mobility service in P.E.I. is getting stronger these days with the arrival of 5G service.
Bell Canada recently announced it has added the fastest wireless service to a number of communities across the Island, including Charlottetown, Kensington, Abram-Village and Sherbrooke.
“5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology … but this one is better, faster and more powerful," Claire Gillies, president of Bell Mobility, said in an interview with the SaltWire Network on Jan. 6.
“We’ve got speed, we’ve got latency, which is quicker response time, and it’s got capacity. This (network) has a lot of capacity. It offers more advanced capabilities that developers want to take advantage of to bring new offerings to consumers and businesses."
The SaltWire Network also reached out to other mobility providers, such as Rogers, Telus and Eastlink, to see what plans they have for 5G service.
Jill Laing, director of public affairs for Eastlink, said Jan. 10 that it is making investments in its mobile network, including the acquisition of mobile spectrum that enables 5G capabilities.
“We are currently building our 5G network connectivity for our growing number of mobile customers and will have more to share in the coming months," Laing said.
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Anne-Julie Gratton, director of regional communications with Rogers, said over the past 20 months the company has enhanced its wireless networks across 32 communities throughout Atlantic Canada with plans to add 25 more communities by the end of this year.
Telus did not respond to an email seeking information.
Gillies said Bell Canada reached its goal of having 5G available to 70 per cent of the national population by the end of 2021.
The company has expanded its all-fibre network to about 13,000 homes and businesses in P.E.I.
Upgraded to 5G
Bell Canada has upgraded its mobility network in the following P.E.I. communities to provide 5G services:
- Charlottetown
- Kensington
- Abram-Village
- Sherbrooke
- New London
- Stanley Bridge
- Hope River
- Bayview
- Cavendish
- North Rustico
Of course, the caveat here is that consumers have to have 5G compatible devices in order to receive the service.
“That is an important consideration for this," Gillies said. “Now, 5G devices like smartphones have been available since March of 2020, so lots of people have them today, and the majority of phones we sell are 5G capable, like the new iPhone13."
Gillies said those who have 5G compatible devices don’t have to do anything once the service becomes available in their area.
“Their device will start picking up the 5G signal. If you look at the top right-hand corner of your phone you’ll see the 5G symbol versus LTE or 4G as they would have seen in the past."
Gillies estimates more than half of their customers in the P.E.I. communities that now have 5G service would have 5G compatible devices.
The SaltWire Network asked Gillies about whether Bell Canada has any plans to expand 5G service beyond the communities that have been added so far.
“We generally don’t make them available publicly," Gillies said, when asked to name specific communities. “We’ll eventually stretch that this year and the following year."
She said that 99 per cent of P.E.I. customers currently have access to 4G service.
Gillies said there is no additional charge to customers for providing the service. In 2021, Bell Canada announced an additional investment of $1.7 billion in capital over two years to accelerate the rollout of its broadband fibre, 5G and rural networks.
Dave Stewart is a municipal reporter with the SaltWire Network in Prince Edward Island.
