Canadian telecommunications giant Telus will provide General Motors' next-generation of vehicles its 5G connectivity, the companies said Wednesday.
It marks the first time the automaker has chosen a Canadian communications firm to provide such services for Canadian customers.
Network services were previously provided by AT&T, which remains GM’s connected-services provider in the United States, a GM Canada spokesperson said.
In Canada, the AT&T network often required roaming on other networks, the spokesperson said. By selecting a domestic provider, GM said it can streamline its customer experience and seed further technology development and innovation in Canada.
GM and Telus, headquartered in Vancouver, are collaborating to enable high-performance wireless network capabilities that “will meet the unique needs of an all-electric and autonomous vehicle future.”
Under the partnership, network enhancements will be:
- Improved roadway-centric coverage;
- Faster music and video downloads with higher quality;
- Faster, more reliable, and secure over-the-air software updates;
- Faster navigation, mapping, and voice services.
“As we move to 5G, GM will introduce a range of new convenience and entertainment features as well as new driver-assistance technologies on our journey to zero crashes and zero congestion. Working with TELUS, we can develop and foster much of that innovation right here in Canada,” GM Canada President Scott Bell said in a statement.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
The first GM vehicles with built-in connectivity to Telus’ high-performance 4G-LTE and 5G network are expected to be introduced with the 2025 model year. Additionally, through GM’s fifth-generation rollout, current 4G LTE-equipped 2019 model-year and newer vehicles will be able to migrate to the new Telus network. As a result, current Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac owners in Canada will experience faster connectivity speeds and some of the same performance benefits of future 5G-equipped vehicles, the two companies said.
With upgraded connectivity, GM Canada says it will be able to deliver future mobility services, such as e-commerce, smart city and vehicle-to-electric grid.
“With more advanced features, robust software, and faster download speeds, more data is accessible to provide a more convenient customer experience,” the automaker said in its statement.
