Rogers Communications Reinforces Dominance with Seventh Consecutive 5G Reliability Award from Umlaut
Rogers Communications has once again solidified its position as Canada’s leading telecommunications provider, earning the prestigious “Best in Test” 5G network reliability award from Umlaut for the seventh consecutive year. This accolade, announced in April 2025, underscores Rogers’ relentless investment in infrastructure and its ability to deliver seamless connectivity to millions of Canadians.
Ask Aime: What does the "Best in Test" 5G network reliability award mean for Rogers Communications' future?
The Credibility of Umlaut’s Evaluation
Umlaut, a globally recognized independent benchmarking organization, employs a rigorous methodology to assess over 200 mobile networks in 120 countries. Its 2025 evaluation combined drive tests, walk tests, and crowdsourced data—representing 99.7% of built-up areas—to evaluate voice quality, data speeds, latency, and coverage consistency. For Rogers, this meant demonstrating top-tier performance in rural and urban environments alike, with its 5G network now serving over 32 million people across 2,500 communities.
The evaluation’s credibility is further bolstered by its dynamic criteria, which evolve to reflect technological advancements like 5G+ (enhanced 5G) and rising consumer demands for high-speed streaming and IoT connectivity. In the UK alone, Umlaut’s 2025 test analyzed 7.5 billion data samples, ensuring results reflect real-world user experiences—a metric that directly ties to customer retention and satisfaction.
Rogers’ Infrastructure Investment Payoff
Rogers’ award is a direct result of its strategic investments. Over the past decade, the company has poured over $40 billion into network infrastructure, with an additional $4 billion allocated for 2025 capital expenditures. This funding has enabled the expansion of its 5G+ network, now covering nearly 30% of Canada’s population, including major urban centers like Toronto and Hamilton.
The payoff? A network that outperforms competitors in both reliability and speed. According to Umlaut, Rogers’ 5G network achieves consistent performance even in high-traffic areas, a critical factor for businesses and consumers reliant on “always-on” connectivity. This reliability is further validated by Opensignal, which awarded Rogers top honors for network quality in February 2025.
Market Leadership and Investment Implications
Rogers’ dominance in 5G reliability translates to a competitive edge. A reliable network reduces churn, attracts new subscribers, and opens doors to high-margin services like IoT (via its partnership with rSIM) and enterprise solutions. With 5G+ speeds exceeding 1 Gbps in key markets, Rogers is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and remote work infrastructure.
Financially, Rogers’ stock (TSX:RCI, NYSE:RCI) has risen steadily over the past three years, outperforming the broader telecom sector. Its market cap of $45 billion reflects investor confidence in its growth trajectory. Additionally, the company’s focus on “future-proofing” its network—such as its investments in fiber-optic backhaul and low-latency towers—positions it to maintain leadership as 6G technologies emerge.
Conclusion: A Strong Foundation for Growth
Rogers’ seventh consecutive Umlaut award is more than a technical milestone—it’s a testament to the company’s ability to execute on its infrastructure strategy. With $44 billion in revenue (2024 estimate) and a customer base exceeding 15 million wireless subscribers, Rogers is not just surviving but thriving in a crowded market.
The data speaks for itself:
- 32 million Canadians now within Rogers’ 5G coverage area.
- $4 billion in 2025 capex underscores its commitment to innovation.
- 913/1,000 score in Umlaut’s UK methodology framework (comparable to its Canadian evaluation) highlights global best practices.
For investors, Rogers represents a stable, high-growth play in a sector critical to Canada’s digital future. Its leadership in reliability and innovation, backed by third-party validation, makes it a compelling long-term investment. As 5G adoption accelerates and IoT applications expand, Rogers is poised to capture first-mover advantages, solidifying its place as Canada’s telecommunications leader for years to come.