The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN), Rogers Communications, and the governments of Canada and Ontario announced Monday that Rogers 5G mobile services are now available in 21 communities across Eastern Ontario.
With the completion of 42 new cell towers and four additional upgrades to existing sites, Rogers 5G is now available to residents, businesses and visitors in parts of the following areas: City of Kawartha Lake, Frontenac County, Haliburton County, Hastings County, Lanark County, Lennox and Addington County, Northumberland County, Peterborough County, Prince Edward County, Renfrew County, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, United Counties of Prescott and Russell, United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, City of Kingston, Town of Gananoque, Alderville First Nation, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, Curve Lake First Nation, Hiawatha First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Mohawks of Akwesasne.
Several of these areas were reported to have Rogers 5G mobile services available last December.
Monday’s announcement is part of the EORN Cell Gap Project, a $300-million public-private partnership to improve and expand cellular services across rural Eastern Ontario. Roughly half of the project is co-funded by the federal and provincial governments, as well as municipal members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and most of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus. Selected through a competitive bidding process, Rogers is providing the balance of the investment in the project.
Through the partnership, Rogers is building approximately 332 new telecom cell towers, consisting of newly built and co-located sites, and upgrading 312 existing sites. To date, 309 sites have been upgraded and 100 new cell towers have been completed.
“Rogers Communications, in conjunction with our community partners, is working to accelerate tower construction, with ongoing plans for several new towers,” an EORN press release says.
“Together with our government partners and the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, we are proud to bring 5G service to residents and businesses in more Eastern Ontario communities,” Phil Hartling, president of wireless at Rogers, said in the release. “We are making long-term investments to keep Canadians connected, including now with Rogers 5G Home Internet, delivering home internet service over the largest and most reliable 5G network in Canada.”
