Today we’re announcing our $300M partnership to expand wireless connectivity to rural communities in Eastern Ontario
Now more than ever, wireless connectivity has become an even greater necessity for Canadians. Completing everyday activities such as checking the weather, speaking to family members across the country, or calling for a tow truck while you’re at the side of the highway are things many people in larger cities can take for granted. That’s why we’re excited to be partnering with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), to bring reliable wireless connectivity and real choice to rural communities across Eastern Ontario.
Together, we’ll invest more than $300 million over the next five years to upgrade and expand our network in the 113 municipalities and Indigenous communities of the region. We’ll be delivering 99% cellular coverage, eliminating “dead zones” across 11,000 km of rural highways and improving accessibility to public and emergency services.
Over the last year, our team has worked tirelessly to set the foundations of this partnership. We’re thrilled that this project is expected to create more than 3,000 new jobs, $420 million in local economic growth, and will bring vital 5G infrastructure to Eastern Ontario for a safer, more prosperous, and connected future.
We caught up with Linnae Mackenzie, Director Regional Network Strategy at Rogers Communications, to get her take on what it was like to work on this proposal in the lead-up to today’s announcement:
We began the process about a year ago. Rogers came to the table with an extremely passionate team that is committed to keeping Canadians connected when they need it most, backed by our world-class network.
I knew Rogers had a lot to offer the region of Eastern Ontario. From the strength of our network teams, our leadership with 5G in Canada, teams that deliver winning, world-class and reliable networks, and our large national organization that can think, act, and be local. And on top of that, a partnership with Rogers meant bringing real choice to Eastern Ontario.
After several months of building, refining, and pitching our solution, we were ecstatic to learn we had won the contract to expand our award-winning wireless network to Eastern Ontario. We were able to deliver a solution built by the best team in the business – the Rogers team!
Check out this video to learn more about the impact this initiative will have on the community.