Rogers Communications has activated five new cellular towers along British Columbia’s Highway 16, providing 911 access for all travellers and 5G wireless coverage for its customers.
The new towers are part of an ongoing rural wireless service expansion project with the province’s Connecting British Columbia program, administered by Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the federal Universal Broadband Fund. This corridor between Prince Rupert and Prince George honors the memory of the many Indigenous women and girls who have disappeared or have been found murdered along the route.
“With nine towers in-service, we are proud to provide 166 kilometres of 5G cellular coverage on Highway 16, closing most of the wireless gap between Prince Rupert and Prince George,” said Mark Kennedy, Chief Technology Officer. “We are honored to work with Indigenous communities and government partners on this generational project to increase safety and improve connectivity in the region for residents and travellers.”
With the latest additions, the Highway 16 project is near to completion, with nine out of 11 towers now operational. Once the Highway 16 project is completed, Rogers will provide 252 kilometers of new cellular coverage along Highway 16, closing gaps to ensure continuous coverage along the entire 720-kilometer corridor.
This initiative will establish a safer travel environment and fulfill one of the recommendations in the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium report to enhance safety for Indigenous women and girls.
“These are more than just cell towers; they are life lines for the north. I commend Rogers for leading the way for other corporations to follow along the path to reconciliation,” commented Mary Teegee, a Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) activist.
The Highway 16 project is part of Rogers’ commitment to expanding services in underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities in B.C. and across Canada. Rogers has invested over $40 billion in its networks over the last decade and is investing $4 billion in capital investments this year. Rogers 5G, Canada’s largest and most reliable 5G network, now reaches more than 2,500 communities.
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