MAXVILLE, Ontario - Four new cell towers in the North Glengarry area were included as part of dozens of pieces of new infrastructure being unveiled across the province to augment rural connectivity opportunities.
Nov. 7 the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) and Rogers Communications joined local elected officials to announce more than 300 new telecommunications towers, a combination of new tower constructions and colocations, and will upgrade more than 300 existing sites by 2025. More than 260 sites have been upgraded so far. The expansion in North Glengarry and Alfred and Plantagenet includes four new cellular towers – just the start of more new builds underway to expand cellular service.
Rogers’ 5G mobile services are now available in areas surrounding Maxville, Greenfield, Glen Robertson and Wendover.
The EORN Cell Gap Project is a $300-million public-private partnership to improve and expand cellular services across rural eastern Ontario. About half the project funding comes from the federal and provincial governments, as well as municipal members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) and most of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC). Rogers Communications, which was selected through a competitive bidding process, is providing the balance of the investment.
"It's always a work in progress, but ensuring our residents and businesses get the high-speed services they need, whether it's at their workplace, home or where they are on the road, will continue to be a major priority for us in SDG," said SDG Counties Warden Carma Williams. "We have experienced the benefits of better cell service because of the new towers."
“Canadians increasingly depend on reliable, secure, and modern digital connection services. Through partnerships with the provinces, territories, regional and municipal organizations, and industry, the Government of Canada is making mobile connectivity technologies available to Canadians across the country,” said Francis Drouin, MP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “Residents in the communities included in today’s update will now benefit from upgraded cellular services.”
“Our government is building a stronger, more prosperous Ontario by working collaboratively with partners across the province to ensure families and businesses in eastern Ontario have access to reliable wireless services,” said Nolan Quinn, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry. “With the new cellular towers being built and upgraded, we are significantly improving cellular connectivity throughout eastern Ontario, and providing rural communities with increased opportunities to connect with loved ones, create jobs, participate in the agriculture sector and access the critical resources they need and deserve.”
“Rogers’ network expansion will give local residents access to better cell services that will help support economic growth and improve quality of life,” said EORN Chair J. Murray Jones. “We appreciate the support of our federal, provincial and municipal partners in helping us close the gap in mobile services.”
“We are proud to light up the first new wireless towers built in partnership with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, which will provide more seamless wireless connectivity to residents and visitors to these local communities,” said Ted Woodhead, President, Eastern Ontario, Rogers Communications. “This is a major milestone as we work to bring wireless service to 99% of the areas in the region where people spend their time living and working. Rogers is committed to investing in our networks and working with government partners to deliver world-class technology that drives innovation and prosperity across the region.”