Bell vows to enhance wireless coverage along Highway 75 in southern Manitoba

People livingsouth of Winnipegcan look forward to improved cellphone servicealong Highway 75 in the coming years, Bell Canada says.

Wade Oosterman,group president of BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, said the telecommunications company plans to improve wireless coverage along the Highway 75 corridor, from St. Agathe south to the U.S. border,as part of its acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Servicesannounced earlier this month.

The construction of three wireless cell sites linked by broadband fibre cable will create jobs,close gaps along the highway and bring "world class wireless coverage" to the area,Oostermansaid.

Communities including St.Agathe, Morris and others south to the border crossing at Emerson will get a boost with the new telecommunications infrastructure, Bell officials said.

The projectis part of Bell's promise to spend $1 billion on service improvements across the province over five years.

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Pat Solman, who oversees the construction and operation of the MTS network, said that commitmentwas a "central pillar" of the transaction with Bell.

"The bottom line is that this will deliver benefits on a level that MTS could just simply not provide as a stand alone company," Solman said.

Improved services tied to safety

Pallister said bringing more coverage to what are now dead zones isn't just about having faster cellular connections.

"These are really good news announcements for people who need that contact and who need it not just for industry or economic advance, but also for safety," Premier BrianPallistersaid."I know a lot of people who have had their calls cut off going downHighway 75."

RAW: Premier Brian Pallister welcomes improved cell service along Hwy. 75

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Bell Canada plans to improve wireless coverage along the Highway 75 corridor, from St. Agathe south to the U.S. border, as part of its acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services announced earlier this month.

Jim Swidersky, thereeve for the rural municipality of Stuartburn,said said at first glance, the plans don't seem to include wireless improvements for his jurisdiction in the southeast of the province.

People in his RM started lobbying MTS for improved networks services more than five years ago, he said. Those efforts were tied closely topublic safety concerns following serious fires in Vita, Man., in 2012.

"In today's day and age when it comes tocellphonecommunications, just having basiccellphonecoverage just doesn't cut it," he said. "Today I hear the word 'safety'I'm just wondering when and if we're going to be part of the next rollout."

Key wireless communication services in the community were down the day of the 2012fire, which made evacuating seniors housing,care homes and other buildings more challenging, Swidersky said.

"Townspeople had to yell at street corners if they got all the residents out or who was going where. They were communicating by yelling to each other on street corners," he said. "It was very unsafe."

Swidersky said the province has a big role to play in influencing major players like Bell to improve services in communities like his.

"We're very concerned and leaning toward the side of being disappointed,"he said. "If this was such a big announcement, such a big investment, then why wouldn't Bell unroll all of its plans. And my concernis whether we're part of the plans or not."

Don't be surprised if prices rise

Meanwhile PallistersaidBell's acquisition of MTS, and the promised improvements alongHighway 75,serveas agreat example of what can happen whencompetition in the private sector createsadvantages for customers.

"This is how we create a stronger economy we do it together as partners,"Pallister said.

The cost of those improvementscould get passed on to the consumer.

"You get what you pay for. We've had cheaper, limited service. Now we get better service. I would be not surprised if the prices went up somewhat, because we've been paying the cheapest prices in most of Canada, but we haven't been getting the service," Pallister said.

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Pallister saidhis government would consider partnerships with theprivate sector in the future to expand broadband services into regionsof Manitoba where it is lacking or non-existent. Provincial funding to make that happen would be "on the table," Pallister added.

BCE Inc. announced on May 2 it was in the process of acquiring MTS for $3.9 billion.The Bell-MTSdealis expected to wrap up some time between this year or early 2017.

The sale must first receiveregulatory approval, and some consumers have said they're worried itwill lead to higher cellphone rates.

With files from Sean Kavanagh