New cell service for Queen Charlotte residents

$850,000 cell tower project boosts TELUS wireless services

Vancouver, B.C. – TELUS turned up a new $850,000 cell tower this week in the Queen Charlotte Islands, ensuring residents and travellers in the area have access to the latest wireless technology.

The tower, located atop Mt. Poole on Moresby Island, expands TELUS' voice and high-speed data wireless coverage to include Sandspit, Queen Charlotte, and Skidegate.

The project, which is the third TELUS cell tower on the islands, was an engineering feat due to the challenging geography and climate in the region.

“Finishing this project is very rewarding not only because of the tough construction challenges related to the geography, but because of the community support shown to us for bringing these areas new wireless coverage,” said Steve Jenkins, TELUS general manager. “Whether our customers need to make a routine call or dial 911, this investment ensures Canada's largest wireless network will continue to be there when our customers pick up their cell phone.”

The tower will give area residents access to TELUS' new next generation wireless network launching November 5. The network will offer customers the technology for increased wireless data download speeds of up to 21 megabits per second, access to a world class selection of compelling mobile devices and international roaming service to more than 200 countries. This initiative also ensures a smoother transition to fourth generation (4G) wireless technology known as long term evolution (LTE).

“I am very pleased and excited that Queen Charlotte is now part of the global network. This new tower gives our residents great coverage throughout town and all the way across to Sandspit,” said Mayor Carol Kulesha of the Village of Queen Charlotte. “My thanks to TELUS for completing this tremendous project despite the challenges of servicing us. I have a very good idea of what will be under the Christmas tree for many families this year!”

This project is part of TELUS' ongoing capital investment in British Columbia. TELUS is investing $600 million in the province's wireless and broadband Internet infrastructure in 2009 alone, more than $2 billion across Canada.

Since 2000, TELUS has made more than $19 billion in capital and operating expenditures in the province of British Columbia. Since 2000, TELUS, its team members and retirees have contributed more than $50 million and 1.5 million volunteer hours to charitable and community organizations in B.C.

The capital investment disclosed in this release is consistent with TELUS' overall capital expenditure guidance for 2009.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.7 billion of annual revenue and 11.6 million customer connections including 6.1 million wireless subscribers, 4.2 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video. In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $135 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered more than 2.6 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Nine TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead our local philanthropic initiatives. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

For more information, please contact:
Jeremy Baxter
TELUS Media Relations
(604) 643-4059
jeremy.baxter@telus.com