Quebec is allocating $27.7 million to improve cell phone coverage in 10 regions. The investment will fund the construction of 17 new cell tower sites.
France-Élaine Duranceau, minister of cybersecurity and digital dffairs and president of the Treasury Board, announced on Monday the launch of the third phase of “Opération coverture cellulaire,” which was launched in 2022.
The regions covered by this new phase are the Laurentians, Lanaudière, Outaouais, Mauricie, Estrie, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Chaudière-Appalaches, Centre-du-Québec, Côte-Nord, and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
The government states that the projects must be completed by Sept. 30, 2028, at the latest. The towers will be operated by Bell Canada, Sogetel Mobilité, TELUS Communications, and Vidéotron, depending on the region.
“Today, we are taking another step forward to enable even more Quebecers to have access to the cellular network. Connectivity isn’t just a matter of technology—it’s a matter of quality of life, safety, economic development, and vitality for our regions,” said Duranceau in a press release.
As part of the first two phases of “Opération couverture cellulaire,” construction has begun on 211 cell sites, and, according to Quebec, “with a few exceptions related to specific circumstances,” all of these towers are expected to be operational by Dec. 31.
“In total, 87 sites—or 41 per cent—are in service out of the 211 cell sites planned to be completed by Dec. 31, 2026,” the government states.
The government projects an increase in cell coverage to 93.1 per cent on numbered highways and to 99.3 per cent for in-building units once all 211 sites are operational.
“These improvements will tangibly enhance citizens’ quality of life, particularly by facilitating communication with loved ones, supporting business development, enabling emergency response, and promoting regional growth,” it states.
Including the new sites announced on Monday, a total of 228 cell towers will have been built and put into service by 2028.
Since the program’s launch, Quebec has reported investing nearly $280 million to expand cell phone coverage across the province.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
