Two in three small businesses say 5G will benefit their business when it is rolled out

79 per cent say mobile internet is essential for their business’s success

Toronto, May 19, 2021—A new Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) report, in collaboration with TELUS, The small business vision of 5G connectivity in Canada found that most small businesses say fast and reliable mobile internet connectivity is essential to their success today (79 per cent) and over the next three years (88 per cent). Business owners also report that 5G will be beneficial to their business (63 per cent) and will significantly advance the use of technology in small businesses across the country (72 per cent).

“Over the last year, small businesses have been accelerating their digital strategies, in large part due to ongoing circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer behaviours. Enhanced connectivity is becoming more important,” said Mandy D’Autremont, CFIB’s senior director, member experience and strategy. “It is exciting to see how small businesses plan to leverage 5G. Many are telling us the ability to connect more things digitally, like wearable technology, and reaching more customers will improve their competitiveness.”

As the next generation of mobile internet technology, small business owners will be looking for 5G to improve their productivity and efficiency through faster internet (76 per cent), increase their digital access to rural customers (62 per cent), and leverage new opportunities for growth and innovation enabled through enhanced connectivity (53 per cent).

Some industries in particular feel 5G will benefit their business:

• Finance, real estate and leasing - 72 per cent
• Construction – 71 per cent
• Agriculture – 66 per cent 
• Enterprise & administration management – 66 per cent
• Rural – 66 per cent 

Some of the ways these businesses say they would leverage the technology include using augmented reality through wearables to enhance service quality in cleaning businesses, real-time remote monitoring and Geotech reporting for piling and anchorage businesses, moving to cloud-based software for finance and insurance businesses, and introducing drone and other autonomous equipment for farms.

Spectrum auction an opportunity to speed up 5G rollout
The federal government will be auctioning off spectrum in June, the highway on which 5G mobile data will travel. Currently, the government requires telecom operators to roll out 5G within 20 years of purchasing spectrum, but a majority (71 per cent) of small business owners would like to see the government require telecom operators to use the spectrum they purchase within 5 years.

“TELUS is proud to support small business and champion the owners and teams who are driving innovation and growth in Canada. 5G is essential for economic growth and recovery and will inject up to $150 billion to Canada’s economy over the next 20 years,” said Navin Arora, President, TELUS Business Solutions. “Canadian business owners are eager to reap the benefits of 5G including improving efficiency and productivity, while attracting new customers, which is why we are pleased to be bringing 5G to 70% of Canadians by the end of the year, providing the world-leading infrastructure and technology that will give every business the ability to thrive in a digital world.”

Read CFIB’s full report, The small business vision of 5G connectivity in Canada, for more information.

For media enquiries or interviews, please contact:

Milena Stanoeva, CFIB
647-464-2814
public.affairs@cfib.ca

Kalene DeBaeremaeker, TELUS
Kalene.debaeremaeker@telus.com

Data Sources
Survey results come from the Wireless connectivity and 5G rollout survey, conducted by CFIB in collaboration with TELUS, which was taken online by 4,408 small business owners in Canada from March 9 to 19, 2021. For comparison purposes, a probability sample with the same number of respondents would have a margin of error of +/-1.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About CFIB
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada’s largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 95,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners’ chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at cfib.ca.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with $16 billion in annual revenue and 16 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. We leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. In 2020, TELUS was recognized as having the fastest wireless network in the world, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better. TELUS Health is Canada’s leader in digital health technology, improving access to health and wellness services and revolutionizing the flow of health information across the continuum of care. TELUS Agriculture provides innovative digital solutions throughout the agriculture value chain, supporting better food outcomes from improved agri-business data insights and processes. TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that delivers next-generation AI and content management solutions for global brands across the technology and games, ecommerce and FinTech, communications and media, healthcare, travel and hospitality sectors. TELUS and TELUS International operate in 25+ countries around the world. Together, let’s make the future friendly.
Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS, our team members and retirees to contribute more than $820 million and 1.6 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.
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