Rogers to bring LTE to Manitoba customers through extended network sharing agreement with MTS

Agreement will allow Rogers to deliver blazing-fast LTE Max experience to wireless customers across Manitoba; 

Winnipeg, Brandon, Victoria Beach and Grand Beach first markets to launch on June 17 with the fastest wireless internet in the country  

TORONTO, June 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Rogers Communications announced today it will bring Rogers LTE Max to customers in Manitoba through a province-wide network sharing agreement with MTS Inc. Starting June 17, 2013, Rogers will roll out LTE Max - a premium LTE network deployment that enables theoretical network speeds of up to 150 Mbps - to customers in Winnipeg, Brandon, Victoria Beach and  Grand Beach. Rogers will continue to deploy LTE Max, expanding coverage to additional markets in 2013 with plans to reach more than 90 per cent of Manitoba's population over the next five years. This agreement builds on the network sharing arrangement Rogers and MTS signed in 2009 that resulted in the joint deployment of a 4G HSPA+ wireless network covering 97 per cent of Manitobans.

"Our customers in Manitoba are ready for an even faster wireless internet, and we're thrilled to announce that the most advanced wireless technology in the world is coming on June 17^th," said Rob Bruce, President of Communications, Rogers. "This unique agreement with MTS is part of our strategic game plan to bring Rogers LTE's incredibly fast wireless experience to even more customers across Canada."

Under this LTE network sharing arrangement, MTS and Rogers will share the costs of deploying and operating LTE technology in Manitoba. The agreement further enables MTS customers to roam on Rogers wireless network when travelling outside of Manitoba. 

Beginning on June 17, Rogers customers living in Winnipeg, Brandon, Victoria Beach and Grand Beach who currently use an LTE device with an LTE SIM will have access to Rogers LTE Max, enabling them to do more on their smartphone at blazing-fast speeds. Rogers will roll out LTE Max to additional markets in Manitoba this summer, including Portage la Prairie, Selkirk, Steinbach and Ste. Anne. All Rogers customers will continue to have access to Canada's largest selection of LTE devices and Rogers LTE Max, the fastest wireless internet in the country. 

"Manitoba is an important region for Rogers and we are committed to further enhancing the wireless experience for our customers in the province. With this agreement we will deliver capital and operating savings to our business allowing us to re-invest in our customers and our network, particularly in Western Canada which is a priority market for us," added Bruce.

Rogers launched Canada's first LTE network in July 2011 and was the first carrier in Canada to introduce LTE devices. Since this launch, the company has seen an 80 per cent increase in wireless internet usage year over year. Today, Rogers is providing Canada's fastest wireless internet to more than a million customers across 70 per cent of the population, and intends to reach 95 additional markets in 2013. Rogers recently launched LTE Max, a premium wireless network deployment that enables theoretical network speeds of up to 150 Mbps - the fastest available speeds for Canadians. For more details, please visit: www.rogers.com/ltemax  

About Rogers
Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media company. We are Canada's largest provider of wireless voice and data communications services and one of Canada's leading providers of cable television, high-speed Internet and telephony. Through Rogers Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).

SOURCE: Rogers Communications Inc.

Allison Fitton
Rogers Communications
Tel: [phone]
[email protected]