Better cell service coming with investments by province, feds
Residents in Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, and Peterborough County will now have more reliable cellular services as a result of Ontario’s $71 million investment, says a media release from local MPP Laurie Scott.
The governments of Canada and Ontario, Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus were all involved in making the cell gap project happen. Rogers Communications has been selected as the successful bidder.
“Our government’s investment of $71 million along with the partnership between EORN and Rogers Communications is an exciting step towards improving cellular service,” said Scott.
“Helping our rural economies recover and better connect families through reliable cellular coverage has been my focus and I am thrilled we are able to deliver this great news people have been waiting for.”
Mayor Andy Letham said he’s happy to hear “that this project is underway.”
“At the municipal, regional, provincial and federal government levels, cell coverage has been acknowledged as a top priority. Many people, including our MPP Laurie Scott, Maryam Monsef, MP and members of the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus (EOWC) have worked tirelessly to secure the funding. This is a much needed investment in connecting our communities,” said Letham.
The cell gap project will improve cellular service for residents and businesses across the region by expanding cellular data coverage and capacity to better support the use of smartphone applications for video streaming and file transmission.
Rogers was awarded the project through a bidding process led by the EORN that called upon skilled and experienced telecommunication service providers to submit cost effective proposals.
With a $71 million investment from the Government of Ontario and additional investments from other levels of government and Rogers Communications, the Cell Gap Project is now worth more than $300 million.
Now, more than 300 new telecommunication sites will be built and over 300 existing sites will be upgraded across the region over the next five years. EORN anticipates that construction will begin this spring with the project being completed in 2025.
