Vertical: Airports
Application: assenger connectivity, airport operations
Ecosystem: Telus
Private Network: 5G
Calgary International Airport (YYC) is setting a new standard for digital infrastructure in Canadian aviation through a landmark 10-year partnership with Telus to deploy the country’s first airport-wide private 5G network. The initiative aims to address the persistent connectivity challenges faced by travelers while creating a foundation for advanced airport operations.
The network deployment leverages Telus’ existing infrastructure at YYC while introducing new coverage enhancements throughout the terminal complex, both indoors and outdoors. This comprehensive approach will ensure consistent, enterprise-grade connectivity across the entire airport campus, eliminating the dead zones and poor signals that typically plague airport cellular coverage.
Airport CIO Megan Gupton emphasizes that traditional fixed connections and Wi-Fi can no longer meet the growing demands of modern air travel. The private 5G network will provide the ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity needed to support increasing digitalization while enabling future scalability. This infrastructure investment positions YYC to implement advanced technologies for automated check-ins, real-time security updates, and AI-powered logistics.
The implementation will proceed in phases, with initial operations beginning May 1, 2025. This measured approach allows for careful integration with existing systems while maintaining current airport operations. The decade-long partnership also leaves room for additional technological enhancements as new capabilities emerge.
