NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to working and learning from home, telecommunications are fundamental to economic prosperity, social development, and being competitive on a global scale.
“Building on our government’s expansion of cellular service in the province, we will further extend coverage throughout rural Newfoundland and Labrador to help keep people connected,” said Premier Andrew Furey.
Through Phase I and II of the program, the Liberal Government partnered with service providers, community partners and other governments to continue to implement cell service initiatives that support better coverage in Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Phase I expanded cellular service to communities in the southwest portion of the Avalon Peninsula, specifically the St. Mary’s Bay area;
- Phase II will expand Bell’s LTE broadband wireless technology in the communities of Bay de Verde, Burin, Burlington, Conche, Cow Head, Cox’s Cove, Forteau, Hampden, McIvers, Trout River and Winterton.
A Furey government will advance to Phase III of the project, providing cellular coverage to even more communities. This will be accomplished through an investment from the province’s Regional Development Fund and continued leveraging with industry and community partners to provide improved cell phone coverage and broadband access across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Ensuring consistent cell and internet connection helps people feel more safe, but it also helps our well-being by keeping us in contact with loved ones wherever they may be,” said Furey.
The province is nearing completion of the RFP process to establish a new province-wide public safety radio system as well, leveraging that work to support increased cell and broadband. Expanding the public safety radio system will improve the way emergency responders and government — such as law enforcement, firefighters, ambulances and other public service providers — communicate with each other during emergencies.
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