Bell and Telus now offer 5G+ access on their respective $85/month plans.
The $85/month plan is the cheapest option at Telus for one line. It provides 25GB of data at speeds up to 1Gbps and unlimited data at a reduced speed. However, the plan is only available for users who bring their own devices.
The company enacted the policy earlier this month, which previously allowed customers to purchase a device through Telus’ financing program.
Telus’ 5G plans on April 26th, 2023
Bell’s plans on April 26th, 2023
Rogers’ plans on April 26th, 2023
Bell also offers 5G+ on its $85/month plan. It’s the cheapest plan option for users looking to use 5G+ services. However, the plan is not limited to users who bring their own devices. Also, unlike Telus, Bell has a cheaper $65/month 5G plan as well.
Rogers has been offering 5G+ access on its $85/month plan for a while now.
5G+ uses the 3500 MHz spectrum and builds on previously available 5G technology.
Bell Canada has announced that its 5G+ service is now available in Manitoba. The expansion gives customers in select parts of the province access to 5G+ connectivity via Bell.
5G+ is a faster and more responsive version of traditional 5G mobile networks, with 5G+ speeds in Toronto running over 50 percent faster than before.
Bell’s 5G+ is specifically available in Headingley, Winnipeg, East St. Paul and St. Andrews and is expected to be faster and more responsive.
In the summer of 2022, Bell Canada began deploying 3500 MHz wireless spectrum, which powers 5G+ service across Atlantic and Western Canada, as well as in Ontario. Following the company’s recent expansion to Manitoba, Bell now offers 5G+ coverage to over 40 percent of Canadians.
Manitobans inside 5G+ coverage areas with a compatible 5G+ device and rate plan are now available to take advantage of Bell’s 5G+ speed. Residents outside of compatible areas can still access Bell’s 5G, 4G and LTE connections.
MobileSyrup recently attended the NHL’s third annual Tech Showcase in Seattle, Washington, set against the backdrop of the Seattle Kraken’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
This year’s NHL Tech Showcase outlined a straightforward narrative. Throughout the evening of live demos and speaking to officials, the league is clearly experimenting with the various ways 5G and cloud-based services can be leveraged. There’s an obvious goal to create a more engaging viewer experience for lovers of the sport while also discovering ways to bring in new fans. With this in mind, the NHL is partnering with several tech companies, including AWS, SMT, Beyond Sports, Hawk-Eye Innovations, MLSE Digital Labs, Imagen and plenty of others.
The partnership between the NHL and AWS appears to be the backbone of how the league intends to power its fan experiences. This was demonstrated on-site during the NHL Tech Showcase. For instance, AWS showed a live demo of its end-to-end cloud production. This program was piloted in full for the first time on location during the game. The NHL was able to produce a well-rounded cloud-based broadcast of the Kraken’s match against the Ducks. This broadcast effectively highlighted the technology’s low latency capabilities while incorporating the various camera angles, feeds and other features you’d expect from a traditional NHL broadcast.
“I think one of the things that makes this unique is that it’s live. What we’re showing is happening in real-time, with the technology you see in front of you,” Dave Lehanski, NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation, told MobileSyrup during a recent interview.
What was astounding was the promise of low latency being fulfilled without any discernible compromises. A live broadcast of the game was placed on screens surrounding the Tech Showcase. Comparing what viewers at home saw to the AWS cloud broadcast, there was perhaps one second of latency, if that.
This technology could be effectively used to create a much more efficient and sustainable way to broadcast live games. Julie Souza, head of sports at AWS, painted a picture of how these broadcasts can be operated without production trucks and leverage remote workers.
“Our technical director for that game was actually based in Madison, Wisconsin,” Souza says. “We had graphics editors and folks in Toronto and Vancouver. Then we had yet another person working in, in Madison, Wisconsin. So, people who were making all the magic happen, were not necessarily in the room.”
Additionally, AWS can pull in feeds, camera angles, graphics, and highlights from concurrent games running within the league in real-time.
The other half of AWS’ activation was focused on building accurate stats and delivering them in a way that’s digestible to the viewer. For instance, AWS showcased what it calls “opportunity analysis.” AWS is utilizing NHL Edge IQ to read and analyze data taken from the players in real-time. Data relayed via 5G can then be used to show stats such as shift time, possession time, top speeds, and overall game distance on the ice. While these stats will likely speak to hardcore fans, they can also provide tangible statistics for new fans to build their knowledge of a team and its players. “It lets us tell more interesting stories. This is why this is so significant. This is where this stacks up in the pantheon of hockey history, right? So, it gives you context.”
AWS is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to NHL and its relationships with partners. The league aims to broaden the consumption of its content through creative and engaging means. For instance, Beyond Sports attended the Tech Showcase to show off its AI-based platform. The company utilizes the data from a game and re-creates the actions of players on the ice, animating it in the process. This all came to life during the NHL Big City Greens Classic, which aired on the Disney Channel.
In collaboration with NHL, ESPN, and Disney Channel, viewers were able to see a fully animated version of the game. Targeting a younger audience, Beyond Sports sees a future in which hockey can be accessible to kids across various platforms. Sander Schouten, the co-founder of Beyond Sports, tells us, “We do linear videos. Though, we can also go directly into Roblox and Fortnite as well.”
In 2022, Sony acquired Beyond Sports and combined it with Hawk-Eye Innovations. In an on-site demo, 3D recreations of the game were created using Hawk-Eye’s tech. The company is able to collect enough data to articulate 29 points on the player as well as five points from the hockey stick. This leads to a more accurate and malleable skeleton to use in recreations. Theoretically, digital recreations can be created, better mirroring the real-world game. This could lead to more immersive avatars or metaverse integrations down the road.
Toronto-based MLSE Digital Labs brought in its physical tabletop experience. Developed for in-suite use, this device capitalizes on NHL Edge for puck and player tracking. Essentially, the device is a touchscreen built into a coffee table. Those in a suite can look at player positions, face-off probability, top speeds, and an up-to-the-moment heat map. MLSE Digital Labs sees the future of this technology as accessible on the phones and tablets of fans in and out of the arena.
5G technology is still very much in its infancy, and because of this, everything shown during the NHL Tech Showcase is also in the early stages.
“Connectivity is the backbone of all of this,” Souza says. “Whether it’s 5G, private 5G, AWS Wavelength or other technology solutions, the connectivity has to be strong for this to happen.” As 5G and cloud-based innovations continue to be explored, it will be interesting to see how the NHL will adopt new innovations.
As it stands, the NHL is ready to revamp the hockey experience from a fan’s perspective. The core audience may not be ready to adopt second-screen experiences and smartphone app technology just yet. However, the NHL Tech Showcase raises a compelling argument of why fans and newcomers should keep close attention to emerging technology.
Apple dropped iOS 16.4 on March 27th, and among other things, the update brought a new 5G+ icon to iPhones on the Rogers and Bell networks.
As highlighted on Reddit, iPhones on iOS 16.4 will show a 5G+ icon next to the cell signal indicator in the status bar. In the Control Center, it also lists the carrier name (though this isn’t new behaviour).
The new icon is in line with branding introduced by Bell and Rogers last year when the carriers started rolling out 5G networks based on 3500MHz spectrum.
5G+ icon on an iPhone | Image credit: Distinct_Display
It’s worth noting that Telus also offers 5G running on the 3500MHz spectrum, but comments on Reddit indicate a 5G+ icon isn’t showing up on iPhones just yet.
Of course, it’s worth keeping in mind that the symbol on your phone doesn’t always match up with the network you’re connected to. For example, in 2021, I tested an app from Opensignal that lets users view carriers’ 5G coverage, and according to the app, my phone was connected to Bell’s 4G network at the time, despite claiming it was on 5G.
You can learn more about connecting to 3500MHz 5G here.
Bell, Rogers, and Telus consistently claim they offer Canada’s best 5G service. But a recent analysis from Opensignal reveals the competing providers don’t have the stronghold they all claim to possess.
The analysis found Bell offered the best 5G download speed in Canada, averaging at 158.7Mbp. The figure is nearly 15 percent faster than Telus and 21 percent faster than Rogers. However, the analysis also found that Rogers improved its download speed from its last report, published in August 2022, the most, increasing its speed by 32.6Mbps.
Rogers offered the fasted 5G upload speed. It has a score of 29.9Mbps, with an 8Mbps gap with Bell and Telus, which tied for second. Rogers also led in the last report and increased its speed by 5.8Mbps this time around. While Telus and Bell customers also saw an increase in the recent analysis, they weren’t able to catch up to Rogers.
Telus offered the best 5G video experience, scoring 75.1 points out of 100. Bell and Rogers statistically tied for second. However, all three fall in the “very good” category, which has scores from 68-78.
The big three also had tied scores in the 5G reach and availability categories.
The results are based on device data Opensignal collected between October 1st and December 29th, 2022.
Mobile Network Experience
Opensignal used the same parameters to collect data for network experiences and found Rogers offered Canadians the best video experience. It was the only company from the big three to score a “very good rating” from Opensignal.
This means the devices surveyed streamed video at 1080p or better. Users were also satisfied with the time it took to load videos and there was “little stalling.” In comparison, both Bell and Telus had statistically similar scores and fell in the “good” category.
However, both Bell and Telus stayed ahead of Rogers when it came to 4G coverage. The telecom companies received a score of 9.8 compared to Rogers’ 8.8.
“Our users on Bell and Telus connect to 4G in the most locations out of all those visited by our users across all carriers,” the analysis found.
Bell offered the fastest overall download speeds in Canada, a category it has taken for the second time in a row. The average download speed was 74Mbps, almost 4 percent faster than Telus and nearly 26 percent faster than Rogers.
When it came to core consistent quality, Telus took top honours. With a score of 91 percent, it paced Bell by less than 2 percent.
The University of Waterloo is working to develop secure 5G mobile networks that will aid Canada’s security and defence.
A team of computer scientists at the university is leading the project. It includes partners from École de technologie supérieure in Montréal, University of Regina, BlackBerry, NoviFlow, Rockport Networks and Rogers.
The consortium will create AI systems, among other technologies, to detect cyberattacks on 5G slices in real-time and respond to ensure the network stays secure.
“The goal of the consortium is to deploy 5G network slices that not only have high performance, flexibility and reliability but also have increased security levels required for critical applications,” Dr. Raouf Boutaba, the principal investigator for the project, said.
Funding for the $1.5 million project is provided by the Department of National Defence.
Bell’s Gigabit Fibe 3.0 service is now available to residents in Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick.
Offering symmetrical speeds of 3Gbps, Bell says the download speed is twice as fast as cable technology, and the upload speed is 60 times faster.
Bell has also expanded 5G+ services across Atlantic Canada. Residents in Moncton and Riverview, New Brunswick, St John’s, Mount Pearl, Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s and Paradise in Newfoundland and Labrador and Halifax, Nova Scotia will benefit.
5G+ uses the 3500MHz wireless spectrum. Bell released the service in the summer of 2022, initially only making it available to some Ontario residents.
Rogers and Telus also simultaneously released 5G+ services.
5G use is growing worldwide, Ericsson’s November Mobility report reveals.
By the end of the year, there will be an estimated 1 billion 5G subscriptions worldwide through 228 service providers, led by North America and North East Asia. North America is expected to have 141 million 5G subscriptions by year’s end.
More 5G capable devices are expected to enter the market in 2023, and the average data consumption is estimated to exceed 19GB per month. An earlier survey from Ericsson found many Canadians are on 5G but have a 4G device.
People are subscribing to 5G faster than 4G, and the network is expected to hit 1 billion two years faster than 4G. The availability of devices, prices lowering faster than 4G, and China’s deployment of 5G has played a role.
4G subscriptions are also growing, with a 41 million increase during Q3 2022, hitting 5 billion. Ericsson estimates subscriptions will peak at 5.2 billion by the end of 2022.
Ericsson estimates 5G subscriptions will grow to 5 billion by 2028. North America will lead with 5G penetration at 91 percent, and its residents are estimated to use 55GB of mobile data a month.
Telecom companies across Canada are selling the message the future is 5G. According to a recent survey by Ericsson, Canadians also believe this to be true.
The networking and telecom company conducted a global survey on 5G between April and July 2022. 49,000 consumers in 37 markets were surveyed.
In Canada, the study found that 4 million smartphone users would upgrade to 5G over the next 12-15 months.
5G was first introduced to Canadians in 2020, and while 5G subscribers in Canada have increased six times in the past two years, awareness remains low.
Ericsson surveyed 49,100 consumers across 37 markets. Image credit: Ericsson
15 percent of Canadians surveyed for the study say they are on 5G but have a 4G device. 18 percent have a capable device but haven’t upgraded to the 5G subscription.
5G covers 75 percent of the population, but only 33 percent are connected to 5G more than 50 percent of the time.
“The Canadian results and global trends identified by this milestone consumer report suggest we’re on our way towards the next wave of 5G,” Jasmeet Singh Sethi, Head of Ericsson ConsumerLab, said. “As 5G becomes the mainstream, service providers need to get ready for more customers looking to get even more out of their 5G experience”
Ericsson powers various 5G networks in Canada, including Xplornet, Telus, and Bell.
5G support isn’t something that’s exclusive to Canadians alone. The survey found many throughout the world feel the same way and will upgrade despite ongoing challenges with inflation. According to the findings, 510 million people across the globe (30 percent of survey respondents) will upgrade to 5G despite the rise in inflation.
5G is here, and with the expansion of connectivity comes the challenge of deploying and operating networks that prioritize both performance and reduced energy use.
In the past, each generation of mobile broadband has come with a steep increase in energy use due to the deployment of new frequency bands and equipment. But now, through a combination of more renewables in the energy mix, as well as deliberate, energy-efficient network rollouts that leverage new technology, providers can break” this energy curve and make meaningful progress towards achieving their climate goals.
The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is a key enabler for accelerated climate action and has the potential to enable up-to 15 percent reduction in global greenhouse emissions, supporting the decarbonization of key economic sectors like energy production, manufacturing and transportation. According to Ericsson’s research in the latest Breaking the Energy Curve report, mobile networks represent about 0.2 percent of global carbon emissions and 0.6 precent of global electricity use. However, this number will grow if network deployments aren’t managed carefully and sustainably.
As we head into the future, communication service providers (CSPs) are facing increased pressure to break the energy curve and meet sustainability goals. With a holistic approach that looks at network deployment from every angle, it’s possible to scale up 5G while reducing total network energy consumption. Ericsson’s Breaking the Energy Curve report outlines the company’s approach to helping CSPs reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions during network deployments.
There are three elements in Ericsson’s approach to break the increasing energy consumption curve of mobile networks:
Enable sustainable network evolution
Expand and modernize
Operate site infrastructure intelligently
Sustainable network evolution
A holistic view of company targets and network realities allows for network planning and operation-supporting business and sustainability initiatives.
Expand the focus on network performance to include user experience and its correlation towards energy consumption in order to optimize RAN energy efficiency.
Network planning should encompass all aspects of core, transport and radio access equipment, as well as site equipment – including power systems and energy sources.
Categorize sites into three traffic segments to identify the most valuable sites and ensure they operate with efficient network equipment.
Expand and modernize
Effective modernization of existing networks is essential when scaling 5G to reduce the mobile network total energy consumption.
With the new generation of multi-band radios, we can add frequency bands while reducing the amount of radio units and energy consumption.
With modernized equipment like the AIR 3268, adding 5G Massive MIMO on mid-band does not need to increase energy consumption.
Automated, optimized networks across fewer sites lower the environmental impact and cost less to run.
Operate intelligently
Leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation for maximized traffic performance of deployed hardware with minimized energy use.
To maximize the power of automation, we must capture data and digitalize the complete site ecosystem enabling intelligent measurement and control.
Ericsson’s predictive RAN solutions can automatically apply energy-saving actions like cell locking and deep sleep activation based on utilization trends.
ML algorithms help increase utilization of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries or renewable energy sources instead of relying on grid or fuel-based energy sources.
In addition to providing a roadmap for network decarbonization, Ericsson has set ambitious climate goals, aiming to reach Net Zero emissions across company operations by 2030 and 2040 for the entire value chain. Read the latest ‘Breaking the Energy Curve‘ report to learn more about how CSPs can reduce energy consumption and meet sustainability goals while deploying the latest 5G networks. This story is sponsored by Ericsson.
Image credit: Ericsson
This story is sponsored by Ericsson.
MobileSyrup publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.
