Rogers Invests $27M in 5G for 2026 World Cup Venues

Rogers Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it has invested $27 million to upgrade cellular capacity and 5G networks around Toronto's BMO Field and Vancouver's B.C. Place ahead of Canada hosting 13 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The company allocated $22 million for enhancements in and around BMO Field, which will host six World Cup matches, including five group-stage games and one Round of 32 knockout. An additional $5 million went toward improving coverage in key Vancouver areas, where B.C. Place will stage seven matches. The upgrades, now complete, aim to handle massive surges in mobile traffic from fans sharing live videos, accessing digital tickets and using services at stadiums, fan zones, hotels, airports and transit hubs like Toronto's Union Station, Pearson International Airport and some TTC subway stations.

In Toronto, a crew of 30 workers spent nearly 40,000 hours planning and installing new infrastructure, equivalent to adding 16 cell towers in downtown. Rogers deployed extra 5G spectrum for faster speeds and higher capacity, along with portable mobile towers known as Cells on Wheels and Cells on Light Facilities in high-traffic zones. Some improvements...