Two new cell towers slated for Pontiac

Last week the Quebec government announced the next phase of their “Opération Cellulaire” program, including two new cell towers for the Pontiac region. In Quebec’s initial two phases of improvements to the province’s cell coverage, only one tower had been planned for the entire Outaouais region, in L’Ange-Gardien. Phase three of the program was unveiled [...] The post Two new cell towers slated for Pontiac appeared first on The Equity .

Last week the Quebec government announced the next phase of their “Opération Cellulaire” program, including two new cell towers for the Pontiac region. In Quebec’s initial two phases of improvements to the province’s cell coverage, only one tower had been planned for the entire Outaouais region, in L’Ange-Gardien. Phase three of the program was unveiled by the Ministry of Cybersecurity and Digital Affairs on July 6, detailing $27.7 million invested in 17 new towers across the province, with four in the Outaouais.

While the ministry’s release states that the exact placement of the towers has yet to be confirmed, Le Droit reported that the Outaouais towers are planned for the municipalities of Chichester and Alleyn-et-Cawood, as well as in the nearby municipalities of Low in MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and La Pêche in MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais. The towers will be operated by Vidéotron and are expected to be completed by Sept. 2028. In a statement on social media, Pontiac MNA André

Fortin noted that a citizen petition requesting better cell coverage for the Upper Pontiac was submitted to the National Assembly in March with 345 signatures. The petition was spearheaded by Upper Pontiac resident Amy Taylor. “Yesterday, we obtained confirmation that two new cell towers would be built in the MRC, one in Chichester and one in Alleyn-and-Cawood.

Even if many other sectors will still require improvements, it is finally a step in the right direction! Thank you to all the residents who took the time to sign this petition and contributed to have our region’s voice heard,” Fortin wrote. In addition to the petition, several requests have been made via the MRC to improve the region’s cellular coverage, particularly in the Upper Pontiac.

Back in Jan. 2024, then-Waltham Mayor Odette Godin and Allumettes Island Mayor Corey Spence introduced a resolution requesting improved service, citing public safety issues caused by the spotty coverage. Improved cell coverage was also one of the MRC council’s 11 priorities back in 2018. Pontiac Warden Jane Toller said that the news was good for the region, as it addresses a long-standing issue in several municipalities.

“I’m disappointed that we have to wait until 2028 but it is a start and it’s good to see that, in the plan for the Outaouais, I think there’s four towers, two of them are going to be in Pontiac,” she said. She added that there are other areas of the MRC that require cellular improvements. “We have had so many concerns, in particular about public safety, and poor communication,” she said.

“Everyone knows where the dead zones are. A followup would be that it would still not address the dead zones near the [gas station in Bryson] on Hwy. 148, up in Ladysmith, Thorne, we have other areas that we need a plan for.” The post Two new cell towers slated for Pontiac appeared first on The Equity .