Canadian telecommunications operator Rogers has begun deploying the country’s first commercial 5G network, launching services in Toronto, downtown Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa, with plans to expand to more than 20 markets by the end of 2020. This initial rollout marks a significant step in bringing faster, lower-latency wireless connectivity to Canadian consumers and businesses.
Rogers’ initial 5G service uses the 2.5 GHz band, selected to deliver enhanced mobile broadband capacity in dense urban areas. The company plans to add 600 MHz 5G spectrum later in the year, which offers wider coverage and better penetration through buildings and across longer distances—useful for improving in-building reception and rural reach. Rogers has also indicated intentions to deploy services on 3.5 GHz spectrum and utilize dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS), enabling operators to allocate 4G spectrum resources for 5G traffic as demand shifts.
“5G will not only power businesses, it will fuel entire industries and drive Canada’s digital future,” said Joe Natale, Rogers president and CEO. “We are making the right investments, building the right partnerships and deploying the right technology to bring Canadians the very best of 5G.”
In September, Rogers joined Bell Canada and Telus in an agreement with AT&T to support Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and roaming. That arrangement allows AT&T customers to roam on the Canadian carriers’ nationwide LTE-M networks while enabling Bell, Rogers and Telus subscribers to roam on AT&T’s LTE-M network in the United States—simplifying cross-border IoT deployments and improving coverage for devices.
Market research firm IDC projects rapid growth for 5G connections worldwide. Its forecast estimates 5G connections will rise from roughly 10 million in 2019 to about 1.01 billion by 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 217.2% over the forecast period. By 2023, IDC expects 5G to account for approximately 8.9% of all mobile communications device connections. Jason Leigh, research manager at IDC, noted that while early 5G deployments are promising, realizing the technology’s broader potential beyond enhanced mobile broadband will require continued work on standards, regulation and spectrum allocation.
Rogers’ rollout underscores how Canadian carriers are moving to build competitive 5G ecosystems that combine multiple spectrum bands and new network techniques like DSS. For consumers, initial benefits typically include faster download speeds, lower latency and improved network capacity in crowded areas. For businesses and industry, 5G promises new opportunities in areas such as IoT, private networks, industrial automation and immersive media—although many commercial use cases will evolve as standards, devices and industrial deployments mature.
As 5G networks expand across Canada and globally, operators will balance spectrum strategies—combining low-band frequencies for broad coverage with mid- and high-band allocations for capacity and ultra-fast performance—while continuing to refine roaming agreements and partnerships that support seamless service for consumers and connected devices across borders.