Canadian telco Telus has deployed 5G priority slice technology for the Edmonton Police Service.

The deployment of the 5G slice has supported critical surveillance systems in Edmonton, amid the Edmonton Oilers' playoff run in the National Hockey League, which has drawn large crowds to the city.

The purpose of the slice was to provide Edmonton's Police with "reliable, continuous situational awareness needed" to ensure crowd management and public safety during the high-profile playoff games.

Network slicing allows telecom operators to create separate and isolated networks for different use cases, while the slice can be configured differently.

It's a virtual network that operates on top of a single physical network and has been touted as one of 5G SA's key use cases.

According to Telus, the trial was able to demonstrate significant improvements over traditional network performance.

The carrier said that during periods of high congestion, the 5G priority slice "maintained 100 percent service availability." Because of this, it was able to support uninterrupted CCTV footage across downtown Edmonton.

"This groundbreaking priority slice trial showcases our commitment to bring Canadians the best technology for when it matters most," said Heather Tulk, president, commercial and public sector at Telus.

"By guaranteeing network performance and crystal-clear video for first responders during critical moments, we're not just implementing new technology, we're actively supporting public safety and those who protect our communities."

Network slicing has previously been used by rival carrier T-Mobile in response to the wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year.

The company launched T-Priority in September, a dedicated service for first responders that uses network slicing. During the fires in LA, T-Mobile integrated networking slicing for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD).

In April, Verizon also announced availability for Verizon Frontline, its dedicated connectivity solution for first responders in the US.

Telus' network slice deployment comes a couple of weeks after the carrier pledged to invest more than CA$70 billion (US$50.6bn) to expand and upgrade its network infrastructure and operations over the next five years.