Ottawa – In today’s globalized world, Canadians increasingly depend on fast and reliable wireless services in every facet of their lives. That is why the Government of Canada is investing in innovative solutions that will enhance Canada’s telecommunications industry.
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, finalized an investment of $79.1 million under the Strategic Innovation Fund to support Ericsson’s $634.8 million project to advance 5G technologies for next-generation telecommunications networks. The project will also involve R&D work for cloud-based wireless technologies and architectures, as well as artificial intelligence and quantum computing solutions to meet the needs of customers. This work will be performed at Ericsson’s facilities in Ottawa, Ontario, and Saint-Laurent, Quebec.
This partnership will bring economic benefits to the Ottawa and Montréal regions, stimulate Canada’s 5G ecosystem and drive growth in the entire tech sector. The project is also expected to create 1,200 co-op student positions and more than 190 jobs and to sustain 2,400 jobs in Canada, primarily in well-paying R&D positions. And each job created in this sector creates 1.3 new jobs in the broader economy. The government is making sure that Canada remains at the forefront of telecommunications technology to meet the demands of the future.
“Fast, reliable and effective wireless telecommunications are essential to the modern economy. That is why our government is investing in next-generation technologies through its partnership with Ericsson, a global leader in this field with 71 years of deep roots in Canada. This investment will help secure Canada’s position at the forefront of cutting-edge telecommunications development and deployment.- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry