Rogers has announced that it turned on five new cellular towers along British Columbia’s Highway 16, allowing 911 access for all travellers. This is part of a larger project with nine out of 11 towers now in-service.

“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 in the press release. “We are honoured 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.”

When the project is done, Rogers will provide 252km of new cellular coverage along Highway 16, which should close any gaps and ensure coverage along the 720km corridor. This will also fulfill a recommendation made by the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium report to enhance safety for Indigenous women and girls.

The Highway 16 project is part of Rogers’ commitment to increasing services to the underserved rural, remote and Indigenous communities in B.C. and across Canada. Rogers invested more than $40 billion in its networks over the last decade and is investing $4 billion in capital investments this year.

Source: Rogers