Joel Schlesinger © Postmedia Network Inc.
Carole Santerre may not be a household name for Rogers’ millions of customers. The Calgary-based vice-president of network operations at the communications and media company wouldn’t have it any other way.
“My team of network engineers and technicians work in the background, seamlessly providing connectivity for the consumers and businesses that Rogers serves,” says Santerre, who boasts two decades of experience in the industry, including her previous role at Calgary-based Shaw.
Now with Rogers following its recent acquisition of Shaw, Santerre says she feels privileged to lead the national team responsible for ensuring businesses and consumers can confidently rely on Rogers’ national network.
Santerre, much like the team she leads, embraces the daily challenges that come with her role. “I’ve always been attracted to the fast pace of operations,” she says, adding she began her career in telecommunications as a field technician.
As a coast-to-coast provider of wireless, phone, internet, television and business IT services, the job is fast-paced, ever-changing and complex, with a variety of challenges — including Mother Nature.
“We see all sorts of extreme weather events affecting connectivity, and that unpredictability really drives our planning, ensuring diversity and redundancy in the network,” she says.
“We keep tabs on all aspects of the network, and we’re the ones that react to and resolve any connectivity issues customers are facing as quickly as possible.”
Another core focus of her team’s mission is ongoing technological improvement. This includes partnerships with SpaceX and Lynk Global, leading providers of satellite-based communications.
“These partnerships are incredibly exciting for Rogers’ network because they allow customers to stay connected even in Canada’s remotest locations,” Santerre says.
More broadly, Rogers is committed to making high-speed internet and wireless accessible for everyone, including underserved communities in Western Canada such as low-income and Indigenous users through its Connected for Success Program.
These initiatives work toward one goal for Rogers: providing consumers and businesses with unsurpassed service on Canada’s largest network.
“There is a lot that is happening for Rogers in Western Canada, Calgary and Alberta,” Santerre says, noting the city and province are among the telecommunication industry’s fastest growing markets.
The recent merger with Shaw further deepens Rogers’ footprint in the city. That includes in the community, with support of high-profile events such as the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Rogers — a major stop of the PGA TOUR Champions North American senior professional golf circuit.
Of course, Rogers will never lose sight of what has made it Canada’s leading telecom provider: its reliable network for consumers and businesses. In fact, its network was recognized by noted independent mobile network testing and benchmarking company umlaut as being the best in Canada.
Santerre and her network operations team are central to that ongoing success which, now more than ever, will be driven by its growing presence in Western Canada.
“All of this is good news for the West,” Santerre says. “But it’s an especially huge win for Calgary.”
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Calgary Economic Development.