CELLULAR COVERAGE FOR MAINLAND AND THREE ROCK COVE

 In 2016, HORIZON TNL (formerly RDÉE TNL) met with community members of Mainland and Three Rock Cove on the Port au Port Peninsula to better understand their needs. This consultation determined that obtaining cellular coverage was a priority for the community. HORIZON TNL has since been working with Bell Mobility to acquire the infrastructure required for this essential service.

In 2018, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (TCAR) of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced a call for bids to fund part of this ambitious project. HORIZON TNL's proposal is one of only three applications that has successfully secured funding.

With the approved funding, the community was responsible for contributing close to $80,000 (after taxes) towards the final cost of the project.

Logo of the Cellular Project Fundraising Campaign.
  • A woman looks at her phone which displays empty cell bars.

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  • Excerpt from the video for the ‘Our Turn to Connect’ fundraising campaign.

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  • Full thermometer showing the campaign fundraising goal achieved.

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The Challenge

To secure the remaining funds, a fundraising committee was formed to organize events and to solicit donations from local businesses. An online fundraising campaign was also launched at the same time. In June 2019, following the sale of tickets for a CBC benefit concert and the contribution of the Canadian Internet Recording Authority (CIRA), the full community share was raised.


Infrastructure
Bell Mobility, which is providing the infrastructure for the project acquired the land needed to supply the coverage area. This infrastructure, called SimpleCell, will serve the five hundred residents of the two communities.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND BENEFITS


  • INFRASTRUCTURE TO AID IN THE RETENTION OF THE FRANCOPHONE MINORITY COMMUNITY


  • INCENTIVE TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REGION


  • SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL TOURISM


  • INCREASED SAFETY FOR THE RESIDENTS


Project status


A partnership agreement was signed with the Association régionale de la côte Ouest (ARCO) to oversee the project in the region. After the installation of the cell infrastructure in December 2020, a few weeks of debugging were necessary to solve connection issues on certain types of phones. While this period was a slight setback in the initial reception of the service in the community, the tower is now working flawlessly.

 

The residents of Mainland and Three Rock Cove are enjoying the results of their efforts!