Alberta plays a leadership role as one of Canada’s centers of excellence for wireless and telecom product development, manufacturing and service delivery. The sector is comprised of over 450 companies in the province with the largest density centered in the Calgary region. Employing an estimated 16,000 individuals, the wireless and telecom sector has been identified as a key contributor to economic development and diversification and the driving force behind strengthening the knowledge-based economy within the province. 

Canada has been profiled as one of the top three countries in the world for broadband access and Alberta is one of the leading regions within the country for this type of access. The Alberta SuperNet initiative will provide high-capacity broadband access to over 422 communities to further strengthen this position. Within this environment, Alberta’s existing and emerging wireless and telecom companies are offering a broad depth and breadth of capabilities. Design centers and services, network operators, military applications, SCADA systems, asset location products, contract manufacturing services, device manufacturing and carrier and enterprise infrastructure providers are just some of the capabilities that reside in the region.

Given Alberta's well developed and growing wireless and telecom sector, the need to establish an industry association to assist in providing linkage, leverage, focus and support to the sector was identified by regional business leaders during 2003. In April 2004, WiTec Alberta was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization to fulfill this role.