Expanding world’s fastest wireless technology, bringing Optik TV to more Edmonton homes

Edmonton, AB – TELUS will invest $110 million in Edmonton in 2012 to expand 4G LTE – the fastest wireless technology in the world – throughout the city and introduce Optik TV to even more homes.

“TELUS’ $110 million investment will expand Optik TV to more neighbourhoods and bring the world’s fastest wireless technology to Edmonton this year,” said Monty Carter, senior vice-president TELUS Enterprise Solutions. “The demand for wireless services is exploding in Edmonton and TELUS is committed to making investments in infrastructure and technology to better serve our customers and community. We are deeply grateful for the hard work and outstanding commitment of our more than 5,300 local team members and retirees and for the support of our customers.”

This significant investment is part of $2 billion in infrastructure upgrades being made across Alberta through 2014 and builds upon the $26 billion TELUS has already invested in operations and technology throughout the province over the last 10 years.

TELUS’ commitment also extends to supporting local charities and community organizations.

“As important as our infrastructure investments are to our success, our commitment to local community organizations is near and dear to our hearts. TELUS believes deeply in the symbiotic relationship between the success of business and the welfare of our communities,” continued Carter. “We embrace a simple philosophy – we give where we live – and we take great pride in the social outcomes we are helping to realize. Since 2000, TELUS, team members and retirees have contributed more than $8.1 million through Team TELUS Charitable Giving and volunteered more than 600,000 hours to Edmonton area charities and community organizations including the Alberta Cancer Foundation, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region and Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation.”

TELUS’ $110 million investment in 2012 will:

• Extend its new 4G LTE network in Edmonton. 4G LTE is the most advanced, fastest wireless technology available in the world today. TELUS 4G LTE network supports manufacturers’ rated peak download speeds of up to 75 megabits per second (Mbps), with an expected average of 12 to 25 Mbps.

• Extend Optik TV to more Edmonton homes this year. By the end of 2012 TELUS will expand the reach of its Optik TV service to reach nearly 70 per cent of Alberta households. At the end of 2011 TELUS had 509,000 TV customers, adding 56,000 in the final three months of the year. Optik TV provides never before seen functionality and features as well as more than 500 channels, including more than 100 in High Definition (HD). Optik TV is an IPTV based service and features applications like Facebook and remote record, an application that allows subscribers to manage their PVR recordings from any Internet connection or select smartphones. One PVR is all you need to enable every digital box in your home with the ability to pause, rewind and replay live TV, schedule recordings, access existing recordings, and pause a show in one room and pick it up in another room from the same spot.

In addition to our investment in Edmonton, TELUS will connect 18 remote and geographically challenging Alberta communities to broadband Internet. By the end of 2012, TELUS will connect Bear Canyon, Blue Ridge, Brocket, Bruce, Donalda, Ferintosh, Hays, Holden, Hussar, Jarvie, Keephills, Marlboro, Pickardville, Walsh, Waterton Park, Mulhurst, Seba Beach and Wildwood. By 2014 we will connect a further 37 communities to ensure citizens have access to high speed Internet.

The capital investment disclosed in this release is consistent with TELUS' overall capital expenditure guidance for 2012.