Back to SearchAs Lanark County’s Warden, I attended a very exciting announcement on Friday. All three levels of government across Eastern Ontario are supporting the Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s (EORN) Cell Gap Project and on Friday it was announced that Rogers Communications has been awarded the contract.
With the investment from Rogers, the total value of this public-private partnership is more than $300 million! Both federal and provincial governments have committed $71 million to the Cell Gap Project. The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and most of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus have contributed $10 million in municipal funding.
EORN’s Cell Gap Project will bring improved service and capacity to the 113 municipalities and Indigenous communities in Eastern Ontario. It will mean improved public safety and emergency response, as well as enhanced well being and economic success. Upgrades to 300 existing towers will begin this spring which Rogers has indicated will provide an improvement to cellular reception by the end of the year. 300 new towers will be built, adding to the network, which will take up until 2025.
As Warden, I sit on the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and was thrilled to participate in the announcement with my colleagues across our region. While this last step in achieving the Cell Gap Project is an exciting one, I am grateful for the work of all those who dreamed of what could be and for years have remained committed to this critical project. It is a clear reminder of what we can do when we work together.
The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus created EORN in 2010, a non-profit to address the digital divide in our rural communities. EORN is dedicated to improving rural connectivity through innovative public-private partnerships, and supporting a stronger future for all rural Eastern Ontario communities.
Thank you to Minister Maryam Monsef, Federal Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister Laurie Scott, Provincial Minister of Infrastructure for their commitment and support - and both excellent representatives of Eastern Ontario!
Christa Lowry
Mayor of Mississippi Mills
EORN Media Release:
www.eorn.ca/en/news/better-cellular-services-coming-to-eastern-ontario-residents-and-businesses.aspx
EORN Cell Gap Project Partner Video:
