Rogers said it has completed the second phase of the rollout of its 3G high-speed wireless network and services that are now available in 22 Canadian markets.
The suite of services, called Rogers Vision, was introduced earlier this year in Ontario. The Vision suite of services runs on Roger’s new high-speed packet access (HSPA) network, which Rogers claims is the fastest wireless network in Canada.
HSPA is the latest evolution of GSM, the worldwide standard for mobile wireless communications. The 3G protocol significantly increases download speeds on wireless devices, providing a user experience similar to broadband high-speed services.
With Rogers Vision, customers can communicate with mobile multimedia and visual services. It features more than 25 channels of mobile television and video programs, and radio-on-demand with XM Satellite radio and the Rogers MusicStore.
The Rogers HSPA network allows business customers to save time by taking their high-speed broadband office setting on the road. Just as Rogers customers can roam with GSM, they can roam when traveling to countries where HSPA networks have been deployed. There are currently 117 commercially-launched HSPA networks in 58 countries.
“Rogers Vision is a quantum leap forward in wireless communications and has revolutionized the way customers access information and entertainment on-the-go both at home and abroad,” said John Boynton, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Rogers Wireless, in a statement.
The expansion announced today includes services for customers in Greater Vancouver, Kelowna, Victoria, Whistler, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina, Ottawa/Gatineau, Kingston, Sudbury, Barrie, London, Kitchener/Waterloo, Guelph, Windsor, Greater Montreal, Quebec City, Chicoutimi and Trois-Rivieres. Rogers Vision is already available in the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton/St. Catharines, and Burlington/Oakville. Overall, the services are available to 60 percent of the Canadian population.