The University of British Columbia and TELUS have agreed to a five-year
strategic alliance to support communications research and provide
telecommunications services to the university.
The partnership is valued at $4.1 million to the university and
is expected to provide about $30 million in potential business to
TELUS over the five-year term.
“This unique alliance is an example of an innovative partnership
that promotes research on campus,” said UBC President Martha Piper.
“By working closely with TELUS, our university is not only keeping
abreast of the communications technology evolution, we are helping
to forge its future.”
The alliance involves collaboration in wireless communications
research, cooperation in the development of UBC’s information
technology services and campus-wide provisioning of the latest telecommunications
technology. Specifically, the strategic alliance will:
- establish the TELUS Mobility Industrial Research Chair with
a $500,000 pledge - provide funding from TELUS for research in advanced communications
technologies - establish a fund to support information technology on campus
- provide UBC an opportunity to be used as a beta site to test
new telecommunications technologies - provide UBC with telecommunications products on a “best prices,
products and practices” basis - enable both parties to benefit from access to industry experts
and specialists
Under the alliance, UBC will largely use TELUS products and services,
however, students, faculty and staff may choose TELUS or another
supplier for personal telecommunications services.
“TELUS has long been a strong supporter of UBC and education generally,”
said Brian Canfield, TELUS’s President and CEO. “Our alliance
with the university provides us an ideal partner to help us hone
and improve our technologies and education sector service skills
to the benefit of both parties.”
In the past, TELUS provided $1.25 million to help establish UBC’s
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts and continues a history of support
through endowments, support funds and student bursaries and scholarships.
-30-
