About ENCQOR 5G

Wireless technology has made extraordinary advances since it was first introduced in the 1980s. The world is now on the verge of 5G, or fifth-generation, wireless communications.

5G will be a game changer in wireless telecommunications, ushering in a high-speed network for future generations with more devices and forming the wireless backbone for technological advances such as connected cars, smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).

ENCQOR 5G (Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Québec and Ontario for Research and Innovation) is a transformational Canada-Québec-Ontario partnership focused on research and innovation in the field of 5G disruptive technologies, on adoption initiatives and system uses. ENCQOR 5G establishes the first Canadian 5G testbed of digital infrastructure — the key to making the digital economy a reality. ENCQOR 5G’s five-year strategy and unique focus on providing access to 5G networks to SMEs, researchers and academia means it is purpose-built not just for unlocking the technological promise of 5G in the near term, but for driving long-term economic growth in Québec and Ontario and in the broader Canadian innovation ecosystem.

The ENCQOR 5G project is spearheaded by five world-class digital technology companies — Ericsson, Ciena, Thales, IBM Canada and CGI — and brings together industry, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the public sector, centres for innovation, and universities.

ENCQOR 5G is a tool for accelerating the transition to the digital economy and will strengthen the competitiveness of Canada, Québec and Ontario in the global economy by affecting:

People

Creating an ecosystem that is a magnet for talent, both domestic and international

Business

Providing a platform where small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can test ideas and technology, and improve their ability to scale up

Technology

Encouraging the adoption of emerging technologies (artificial intelligence, natural language processing, 5G) across all economic sectors

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ENCQOR 5G has the potential to be a central pillar of the Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda. Through the collaboration of industry partners, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME), governments, and academia, ENCQOR 5G will support economic growth, the creation of high-quality jobs and enhance Canada’s global competitiveness for the benefit of all Canadians.