TELUS has announced a US$70 billion (C$95 billion) investment across Canada through 2029, positioning the move as a commitment to Canadian AI leadership, rural connectivity, and climate sustainability. While the figure is substantial, it is not new—TELUS confirmed the investment aligns with its previously disclosed capital expenditure guidance from its Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 results. The announcement marks a strategic rebranding of ongoing infrastructure projects, including fiber, 5G, and data center upgrades, now framed as foundational for sovereign AI capabilities.
Central to the new messaging are two “Sovereign AI Factories” set to launch in Kamloops, British Columbia, and Rimouski, Quebec. These data centers are designed to keep Canadian research and business data within national borders, supporting regulatory and privacy goals. However, the facilities themselves are part of TELUS’ broader data infrastructure build-out—already underway as part of its digital transformation and cloud strategies.
Beyond AI, TELUS reiterated long-standing programs such as its copper-to-fiber transition, rural broadband expansion, and sustainability efforts. The company has extracted over 4,600 tonnes of copper from legacy networks, cutting 9,300 tonnes of GHG emissions. It is also enhancing 5G and LTE service at more than 500 sites this year and continuing to expand into 73 additional rural and Indigenous communities through 2026.
- US$70 billion investment through 2029 is not new; consistent with previously stated CAPEX plans
- AI infrastructure narrative includes existing data center upgrades and cloud buildouts
- “Sovereign AI Factories” rebrand TELUS’ secure data hosting strategy in Kamloops and Rimouski
- Rural 5G, fiber deployments, and environmental initiatives continue under a new narrative lens
- TELUS has spent over US$45 billion in taxes and remittances since 2000, reinforcing its public role
“The $70-billion investment we are making across Canada transcends traditional connectivity; it is powering advanced digital services, fuelling innovation across all sectors of the economy and propelling our productivity as a nation,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS.
