Rogers, municipal leaders celebrate completion of cell project in Eastern Ontario

CLARENCE-ROCKLAND, ONT.—A who’s who of eastern Ontario descended upon Rockland, Ont., on Thursday to celebrate the delivery of a $300-million cellular project designed to improve coverage throughout the region. The Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) and Rogers Communications Inc. co-hosted an event commemorating the conclusion of the Cell Gap Project, a massive public-private-partnership launched in 2021 to better connectivity for 423,000 homes and businesses between Toronto and Montreal. “We are gathered here to celebrate the successful delivery of… a project that has transformed the connectivity landscape across our region,” said Clarence-Rockland Mayor Mario Zanth. “Today, with Rogers’s 5G cellular service reaching communities across the region, we are strengthening the way people connect to one another, accessing services, growing businesses, and, of course, responding to emergencies.” “This achievement is about so much more than towers and technology, it's about building stronger, safer, and more connected communities.” Through the project, Rogers built 346 new wireless sites, consisting of tower constructions and new co-locations, and upgraded an additional 311 existing sites. Following the project’s completion, eastern Ontario now enjoys 99 per cent voice call coverage, as well as 95 per cent standard definition coverage and 85 per cent high-definition coverage. “We can’t predict exactly what the future holds for our communities,” said Liberal MP Giovanna Mingarelli (Prescott-Russell-Cumberland, Ont.). “But we can do our best to prepare for it by investing today in infrastructure we know we will need tomorrow.” “I am very proud to see this project delivering on its promise…, but the work isn’t finished, as we all know, and our government will continue working with partners to ensure that our communities have the connectivity we need to thrive today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.” The feds contributed $71 million, which was matched by the provincial government. The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus kicked in a combined $10 million, while the remaining investments were made by Rogers, which was selected to deliver the project after a competitive tendering process. “It is a significant investment in our region’s infrastructure but, more importantly, it’s an investment in safety, connectivity, and the economic future of eastern Ontario,” said EORN chair Jennifer Murphy. Queen’s Park was represented at the event by PC MPP Stéphane Sarrazin, while former MP Francis Drouin, Rogers CTO Mark Kennedy, and a slate of local dignitaries representing communities stretching from Peterborough to Prescott were also in attendance. dlegree@thewirereport.ca

Rogers, municipal leaders celebrate completion of cell project in Eastern Ontario

Telecom |
By Davis Legree
|August 20, 2026

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Rogers, municipal leaders celebrate completion of cell project in Eastern Ontario

Telecom | By Davis Legree |August 20, 2026

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By Davis Legree
|August 20, 2026