5G Update
We were promised lots—but, as is typical for complex developments, rollout takes time. So what is going on? Time for a closer look at what Canadians can now do with 5G and when the promised “big gains” will arrive. Should you switch to 5G now, or keep waiting? Who is offering service? Are there many 5G phones available yet? How might all of this be affected if Canada opts to join other countries and remove Huawei equipment from the networks?
5G or 4G LTE or Wi-Fi?

We last wrote about 5G in September 2019. We explained then that 5G is both a new signalling protocol and a new set of radio frequencies. 5G service will be offered on the same frequencies as 4G (LTE)—called low-band. It will also be offered on frequencies similar to Wi- Fi—called mid-band. The new frequencies above 30GHz are called hi- band. There is little difference between low-band 5G and 4G LTE or mid-band 5G and Wi-Fi—aside from the signalling protocol used. We expect to see comparable speeds and bandwidth to services currently using those frequencies. The big gains expected from 5G will only come with hi-band.
Upgrading 4G LTE
This is a natural evolution of what exists and is the favoured (low risk) path for carriers. Capacity on existing LTE sites will be switched to 5G so new phones can enjoy 5G protocol. Where sites do not offer 5G, the phones will fall back to 4G. Telus, for example, has been investing heavily in higher density 4G service via eNode fibre-distributed antennae (see photo). These are active right now on 4G LTE service with hundreds deployed on utility poles in many areas of the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island. They will likely carry 5G low-band service initially, but could be upgraded to higher frequencies later.
Linking with Wi-Fi
Shaw is quietly rolling out its own cellular service, blending their Freedom Mobile LTE service and Shaw Go Wi-Fi to offer seamless roaming and high density from their existing Wi-Fi investment. Future dual
-use nodes could see those Wi-Fi hubs offering 5G mid-band service.
G Hi-Band
Telus is offering 5G hi-band service in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton. Bell is opening in the same cities. Rogers currently offers 5G in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Shaw does not currently offer 5G service but expects to start soon.
Phones and Plans
Presently, the Galaxy S20, LG V60 and Motorola edge+ are the only available options for 5G phones. We are starting to see “unlimited” data plans for 5G, but be careful: that unlimited might only apply to 5G and not when falling back to 4G. 5G hi-band will offer a claimed “up to 1.7Gbps” data rate. 4G fallback will enjoy 150Mbps data rates. When 5G lo-band service is offered that should increase—up to a theoretical 1.5Gbps.
The Huawei Joker
As we saw last month in “Beware of the Dragon,” countries like the US, the UK and Australia are mandating the removal of Huawei equipment from their networks. Currently Canada has not joined in, but many see it as only a matter of time. The eNode systems deployed by Telus are supplied by Huawei, but the new 5G hi-band systems are mainly sourced from Samsung, Nokia and Ericsson. Other carriers will likewise be planning to reduce reliance on Huawei for 5G— although Huawei equipment is still littered throughout the 4G networks.
This article was published in the
September 2020
edition of The TMC Advisor
- ISSN 2369-663X Volume:7 Issue:6
©2020 TMC Consulting