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Rogers adds two cell towers to project closing wireless gap along Highway of Tears

Highway of Tears near New Hazelton BC during a beautiful sunset.

Rogers is adding two additional cellular towers along Highway 16 in B.C.

The move is part of the company’s plan to extend wireless services along part of the highway, also known as the Highway of Tears. The name references the many Indigenous women and girls who go missing along the highway.

A total of 14 cell towers will go up along the highway between Prince Rupert and Prince George under the commitment.

The two new towers will add 26 kilometres of service on top of the 252 kilometres the original 12 towers will bring.

“These towers will provide salvation to many vulnerable people in the area,” Mary Teegee, a Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) activist, said. “Connectivity isn’t just cell phones, and this project will be foundational to build further, much needed services like bus routes in the area to make a difference.”

Rogers started constructing the first towers late last year.

The company has also sponsored two memorial Totem Poles that will be placed at each end of the Highway of Tears. The project is known as the Two Sisters Totem poles. The MMIWG and the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society (IRSSS) started the project.

“Projects like this are key to ensuring women, especially Indigenous women, who are not safe can call for help and receive the services they need,” Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, said.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Rogers

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Mobile Syrup

B.C. project to improve Highway 3 cell coverage between Hope and Keremeos

British Columbia (Canada) flag waving on the wind | 155594780

The B.C. government announced a new project to improve cellular coverage along Highway 3 between Hope and Keremeos.

The project will see the addition of 11 new cell towers along an estimated 93km of the highway. In a release, the B.C. government said the added towers will improve safety for users as the province works to strengthen highway infrastructure following recent flooding.

“We are working hard to expand connectivity where it’s most needed in the province,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s minister of citizens’ services, in the release.

“Cellular coverage along key transport routes like Highway 3 is important for both commercial and recreational travellers, as it will enable people to stay connected and to access road safety updates and important emergency services while on the road.”

The release notes that cell coverage along the described section of Highway 3 is intermittent. The coverage gaps between Hope and Manning Park, and the gaps between Princeton and Keremeos present the greatest challenge. However, the project should lead to consistent coverage along the whole route.

The provincial government will invest up to $3.1 million through the Connecting British Columbia grant program. The Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) will administer the grant, which will partially fund the project’s $9.7 million cost. Rogers Communications will foot the rest of the bill.

B.C. expects the project to be completed by fall 2024.

Thanks Kris!

Header image credit: Shutterstock

Source: B.C. government

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Mobile Syrup

Rogers to construct six cell towers on Highway 4 in British Columbia

Rogers is constructing six new cell towers along Highway 4 in B.C. to improve connectivity in the area.

The towers will be constructed between Port Alberni and Tofino. Two existing towers will also be upgraded. The construction will provide 85kms of coverage to several communities along Vancouver Island.

“Highway 4 is a vital route, and this project will provide… new service and resolve spotty coverage, improving safety and reliable connectivity as soon as possible for all who depend on it for commercial transportation, tourism and travelling to and from their homes,” Jorge Fernandes, the company’s chief technology officer, said in a statement.

This isn’t the first time the telecom giant announced it was expanding services in the province. Expansion projects along Highways 14, 95, and 97 are also being completed through the Connecting British Columbia program. This has seen the telecom company partner with B.C’s government to make network investments in the province.

Seven towers are being built along Highway 14, with construction expected to be completed this year. The company is also constructing towers across Highway 16 along the area known as the Highway of Tears.

In a statement, Rogers notes the Highway 4 expansion is fully funded by the company alone.

Source: Rogers

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Mobile Syrup

Coastal First Nations, Rogers partnership to build cell towers in Haida Gwaii

Rogers Communications and Coastal First Nations (CFN) announced a partnership set to benefit CFN communities by improving connectivity, strengthening environmental stewardship and help Indigenous entrepreneurs grow their businesses with digital tools.

The partnership covers several initiatives that will be announced between now and 2022. These initiatives include academic research projects, the creation and growth of Indigenous-led internet service providers (ISPs) and digital platforms for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

As part of the initial partnership announcement, Rogers and CFN also unveiled four initiatives:

  • Build five new cell sites and upgrade existing infrastructure on Haida Gwaii in B.C. and bring new “near contiguous” coverage to Highway 16 from Masset through Port Clements to Queen Charlotte.
  • Rogers will invest and support CFN’s environmental stewardship work that supports a long-standing sense of collective responsibility to care for our lands and waters.
  • Rogers Sports & Media and CFN will raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing the Great Bear Rainforest, such as the threatened salmon population, with an upcoming music festival involving Indigenous artists and performances.
  • ‘Today’s Shopping Choice’s Let’s Shop Better’ platform will support new opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs from CFN communities.

Rogers also said it would engage in research and training initiatives and partner with CFN to support community events, increase its local presence and provide employment opportunities for youth and local entrepreneurs.

Source: Rogers

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Mobile Syrup

SaskTel erects 10 new cell towers, completes $107 million wireless project

Saskatchewan’s crown-owned telecommunications company is celebrating the completion of a $107 million initiative to connect the province with wireless internet.

The four-year “Wireless Saskatchewan” project, launched by SaskTel in 2017, officially concluded on September 10th, 2021, with the completion of a final set of macro cell towers.

According to a press release, the 10 newly-launched towers will offer faster 4G LTE service to the communities of Aberdeen (South), Candle Lake, Carrot River (East), East Fairwell, Kuroki, Makwa, Marean Lake, Mount Pleasant, Prince Albert (East), and Shaunavon (Southeast).

SaskTel previously launched 15 new towers in March 2021, servicing the regions of Burnham, Clayridge, Crescent Lake, Duncairn, Filion Lake, Frenchman Butte, Great Deer, Keppel, Kessock, Main Centre, Meacham (East), Murphy Creek, Parkerview, Sokal, and Worcester.

In total, there are now 1,000 SaskTel towers erected across the province.

With the initiative complete, SaskTel announced its next project is bringing 5G internet service to rural Saskatchewan.

To achieve this goal, the province plans on investing $323 million in 2021-2023, and over $1.4 billion over the next five years, to launch its 5G network.

Source: SaskTel