Canadian private networks have been a promise on the horizon for years. Today, that potential is set to grow to a $2.8 billion reality by 2033, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 54 percent. The shift from traditional connectivity to mission-critical innovation is becoming the new industry battleground.

This country’s operators should no longer view private networks as a way to fill connectivity gaps. With the introduction of Non-Competitive Licensing and access to up to 80 MHz of dedicated spectrum, they have an opportunity to move past the traditional barriers of high cost and complexity. This regulatory change combined with more affordable plug-and-play hardware allows them to ride shifting market dynamics and accelerate new connectivity and automation technologies.

Canadian telcos must transform into techcos, and this begins by delivering tangible outcomes.

  • Mission-critical use cases, such as autonomous vehicles, digital twins, and drones
  • AI‑based automation using rich data collection from sensors and devices for digital twins, predictive analytics, and autonomous operations
  • Tangible ROI, such as the15 percent productivity gain one mine achieved through autonomous vehicles, remote monitoring, and advanced analytics
  • Integrated cybersecurity, IoT, and AI delivered as unified managed services

Lead the evolution

The number of competitive third party service providers is growing. These smaller, more agile players are creating specialized niches in traditional telco territory. Success for Canadian telcos in this new competitive landscape will be built on end-to-end solutions which expand connectivity through private networks, boost innovation, and enable critical use cases. This will drive meaningful returns on investment, enhance mobility, and create stronger connectivity for Canada.

The infrastructure is ready. Canadian operators must move now.

Download our full analysis of Canada’s 5G opportunity