The work to close the gap in cellular and high-speed broadband service in eastern Ontario is moving ahead in 2022.
A large portion of the $300 million investment is going into the Hastings County area.
CAO Jim Pine told County council on Thursday there are two pieces to the project.
“There’s upgrading of existing Rogers Communications cell tower sites that currently are in eastern Ontario with the latest 5G equipment. And the second part is building new towers, new cellular towers, in gap areas where we need to close those coverage gaps.”
“And we anticipate about 265 new towers across Eastern Ontario will be required to make that ubiquitous coverage that we like and to close those gaps.”
Pine added, “In addition to being able to do more with your mobile device whether it’s a cell phone or a tablet. We also know there is as big public safety component to the project.”
“There are lots of areas in Eastern Ontario and you will have driven through them as I have driven through them, where there is no connectivity whatsoever. If you had to make a 911 call, for instance, you couldn’t do it.”
Pine says it will let us improve municipal services. “We can see the day when an ambulance that picks up a patient and stays in video link all the way from picking up the patient right to the receiving hospital and working with the physicians, emergency personnel at the hospital. Just a better level of service.”
“So whether it’s email or web browsing, the standard level of service, we want to have 95% of the area covered so people can use their mobile devices for it, and a further third goal, 85% coverage for the high intensity, high definition services or data intensive studying.”
“So whether it’s email or web browsing, the standard level of service, we want to have 95% of the area covered so people can use their mobile devices for it, and a further third goal, 85% coverage for the high intensity, high definition services or data intensive studying.”
Pine also noted there are more than 170 existing towers that need to be upgraded.
Rogers is expected to have all the work done at end of 2025.
Pine also made the same presentation later in the day to Prince Edward County during their Committee of the Whole meeting.
Pine said ten new cell towers have been built to date, with another 20 to be built this year.
Councillor Bill McMahon asked if the supply chain issues and if inflation has affected the cost of this project.
Pine noted so far, it has not.
“At this stage we are confident that the budget we put forward, and is Rogers, is solid and we don’t anticipate any overages of any consequence at this stage.”
