TELUS launches Canada's first sovereign AI factory in Quebec

TELUS has announced the opening of a fully sovereign artificial intelligence facility in Rimouski, Quebec, which provides Canadian organisations, researchers, and public institutions with local access to advanced AI compute power and secure data residency.

TELUS describes the new centre as a highly secure facility powered by NVIDIA's latest-generation graphics processing units (GPUs) and computing infrastructure provided by HPE. The company stated that the centre is entirely Canadian-controlled and managed, with all data stored within Canada's borders and subject to national oversight.

Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS, said the launch reflects a significant step forward in Canada's control of its digital future. 

"From Rimouski today and Kamloops tomorrow, we are creating the backbone for Canada's productivity, competitiveness and global leadership in the digital era... Importantly, TELUS is providing the secure, sovereign foundation our country needs to create made-in-Canada solutions, accelerate growth and secure our place in the digital economy for generations to come," said Entwistle.

The facility is designed to offer end-to-end AI capabilities, including model training, customisation, and deployment of AI models for a diverse set of Canadian clients. TELUS highlights that the infrastructure is available immediately and can accelerate AI research and business innovation across sectors while ensuring data remains within Canada.

TELUS is the first North American service provider to join the NVIDIA Cloud Partner network, enabling direct access to NVIDIA's technology and high-performance reference architecture. The new centre aims to reduce the time and cost associated with deploying AI at scale.

Valerie Pisano, President and CEO of Mila Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, said the AI factory is important soverign infrastructure that gives Canadian tech the ability to create economic benefits to the country.

"Canadian AI research has always been world-leading, but access to truly sovereign, high-performance computing infrastructure has been a critical gap. TELUS' Sovereign AI Factory provides the Canadian AI community with the computational resources needed to advance breakthrough research while keeping our work within Canadian borders," said Pisano.

The facility is powered by 99 per cent renewable energy, according to TELUS, and is said to operate with triple the energy efficiency of industry averages. TELUS adds that it reduces water consumption by more than 75% through the use of natural cooling systems, aligning its technology expansion with environmental objectives.

Several firms will launch new AI solutions using the facility. League, a Canadian healthcare consumer experience provider, will utilise the AI Factory to deliver enhanced, personalised healthcare experiences while keeping all data within national borders.

IT firm Accenture plans to use the facility to develop and deliver industry-specific AI solutions for clients in regulated sectors, including government, healthcare, utilities, and finance. Additionally, OpenText will utilise the facility for its Aviator AI platform, which currently serves over 1,600 enterprise and government customers.