‘It keeps us up to speed to the rest of the world. I mean, everything we do these days is online.’
Tyler Mugford
Kicker News
The provincial government announced plans for the addition of cell service technology for communities in southern Labrador on Wednesday.
The projects aim is to expand wireless coverage in communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The total investment is estimated to cost about $1 million. Bell is set to be paying over $500,000 and Nunacor and the NunatuKavut Community Council is providing the rest of the funds.
LTE will be available in the communities of Red Bay, Mary’s Harbour, St. Lewis, Port Hope Simpson, Charlottetown and Cartwright.
Dwight Lethbridge, the mayor of Cartwright, says the implementation of cell service will have many positive effects on the people who live in Southern Labrador.
“It keeps us up to speed to the rest of the world,” said Lethbridge. “I mean, everything we do these days is online. We do most of our business online. It’s important to be connected to emails. It’s important to take a phone call without being on a landline.”
Peter Dyson, who is from Cartwright, thinks the announcement’s timing is a coincidence.
“I mean, it’s good for the communities of southern Labrador. But, I think the announcement came just in time for the voting season,” said Dyson.
The addition of cell service will increase safety, says Lethbridge.
“Having cell service in all of the Southern communities means people will have easier access to calling people,” said Lethbridge. “I don’t know how far the service will go in terms of outside of the community. But, it’s obvious that having cell service will be a positive change.”
However, it’s taken a while for cell services to reach southern Labrador and Lethbridge says the reason why is due to the large geographic area.
“I can’t think of any cell service carriers that would come in here on their own,” said Lethbridge.
It’s unclear when the construction will begin to implement LTE services in southern Labrador.
“I’m hoping we’re going to be talking on cell phones sometime next year,” said Lethbridge.
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