Operator Bell Canada scored a double whammy for its 5G network ambitions after deploying mid-band spectrum in parts of the province of Ontario.

A deployment of 3800MHz spectrum provides greater data rates and supplements work on deploying 5G-Advanced, Bell stated.

Users with compatible smartphones from Apple, Samsung and Google stand to experience a 65 per cent hike in data rates compared with the performance of Bell’s network before the spectrum was deployed.

Bell pointed to peak rates of 3.6Gb/s in the downlink and emphasised the increased capacity the mid-band move brings.

EVP and CTO Mark McDonald said the move in Ontario “complements our ongoing investments in a 5G-Advanced” infrastructure.

The pay-off will be felt in improved services spanning entertainment and cloud gaming, enterprise AI services and real-time AR collaboration, McDonald predicted.

Bell’s update covers parts of southern Ontario including the cities of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton.

It stated the rollout builds on a test deployment of 3800MHz spectrum in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo in 2024, while making use of frequencies it paid CAD2.8 billion ($2 billion) for in an auction in 2023.