Quebecor’s Videotron announced last week the expansion of its wireless coverage and service area in the Haute-Mauricie region of Quebec, effective Aug. 31.
Videotron said in a press release the upgrade is made possible by a partnership with Ecotel and the support of the Quebec government.
“It will bring a major improvement in mobile communications to this region of Québec, providing more than 10,000 residents with access to Videotron’s mobile services and enhancing connectivity along a number of roads,” the press release said.
To deliver its mobile services, Videotron will use Ecotel’s telecommunications towers, which cover the town of La Tuque and make it possible to provide cellular coverage to the surrounding areas for the first time, Videotron said.
When the phased rollout is completed in 2026, Videotron’s network will be available in Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac, Trois-Rives (Mattawin), Lac-Chat, La Bostonnais, Festubert, Lac-à-Beauce, La Croche, Lac-Édouard, Parent and Lac-Rainbow, according to the release.
“We are proud to bring Videotron’s innovative, competitively priced plans to even more Quebecers with this expansion in Haute-Mauricie,” said Pierre Karl Péladeau, president and CEO of Quebecor, in the press release. “Providing reliable connectivity in partnership with Ecotel will support economic vitality in the region and improve quality of life for residents and visitors. It will also facilitate emergency communications. Videotron’s commitment to serving Quebecers is stronger than ever, as this new regional roll-out clearly demonstrates.”
“We are very proud to announce that the Haute-Mauricie community will finally have access to voice communications everywhere in the region,” said Éric L’Heureux, president and founder of Ecotel, in a statement. “We’ve been working for years to bring remote communities closer to the level of connectivity found in major centres. But while we have installed the network infrastructure, we needed a consumer service provider to use our towers to extend its service to these communities. We’re delighted that Videotron has answered the call.”
Videtron said this announcement is the latest in a series of expansions of its wireless subscription area, which in addition to Haute-Mauricie now covers a number of new areas in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Gaspésie, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Côte-Nord. A detailed Videotron coverage map is available here.
