Rogers will invest in $300m partnership to expand wireless connectivity in Eastern Ontario

Rogers has partnered with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the Eastern Ontario Regional Network to offer "reliable wireless connectivity to 99% of Eastern Ontario's residents and businesses." It's part of the company's plans to expand its coverage and improve connectivity in underserved communities like rural and remote regions. The partnership comes at a time when many people are working from home and need access to reliable connections to get things done.

The company will invest over $150 million to upgrade and expand the region's wireless telecommunications infrastructure over five years. It plans to build over 300 new cellular towers and upgrade another 300+ existing towers. The federal and provincial governments are each investing $71 million into the project, with the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus and Eastern Ontario Mayors' Caucus contributing an additional $10 million.

"We are thrilled Rogers has been chosen to provide indispensable mobile connectivity to the 113 municipalities and Indigenous communities of Eastern Ontario and look forward to the deep and lasting local relationships that will be forged as we serve the region," says Joe Natale, president and CEO of Rogers Communications, in a press statement. "It is exciting to be part of this partnership with government that has the potential to create more than 3,000 new jobs, as much as $420 million in local economic growth, and vital 5G infrastructure for a safer, more prosperous, and connected future." 

The infrastructure expansion work will begin in the spring and is expected to continue through 2025.

These are what residents and businesses in Eastern Ontario are expecting to get access to with this project:

• 99% of the region's demand area will have access to mobile voice calling service
• 95% of the region's demand area will have access to service that enables standard definition video, typical mobile app use, and video app calling
• 85% of the region's demand area will have access to high-definition services that allow HD video streaming