As a result of the pandemic, our wireless and fixed networks were tested due to unprecedented spikes from the use of 1-800 numbers and conference bridges to video streaming and online activity.

In the first weeks of March, a 50 percent surge in cellphone and landline calls from workers sent home had congested connections between carriers, resulting in increased busy signals and dropped calls. We upgraded a year’s worth of wireline voice network capacity in two weeks. We added almost 200,000 additional access links between our networks to handle two million additional calls per hour. Upgrades that would be done over several months took place in days.

Coming out of the pandemic, we need to ensure Canada both maintains its world-leading network speed and reliability and deploys spectrum to benefit as many Canadians as possible. Rural Canadians need better network connectivity and access to broadband if they are to reboot their economies and lives. Our industry needs to think digital and mobile first and maintain the momentum established during COVID-19 to continue the digitization of our economy while prioritizing Canadians’ privacy. We have a diminishing window of opportunity to ready Canada for economic recovery. When we succeed, it will be because we have held to the principles that have brought us this far.

Ibrahim Gedeon is chief technology officer for TELUS.