Question Period Note: RURAL MOBILE COVERAGE

What is the Government of Canada doing to ensure that rural areas have the mobile coverage they need?

• Mobile connectivity is important to Canadians regardless of where they live, work, and travel. While most Canadians have access to mobile coverage, gaps persist in First Nations communities and along major highways and roads.

• The Government of Canada is working to close the gaps with up to $50 million under the Universal Broadband Fund for mobile projects that primarily benefit Indigenous peoples.

• Under the Universal Broadband Fund, the government has announced a project to provide complete mobile connectivity along BC’s Highway of Tears – fulfilling a key recommendation of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls report.

• The Government of Canada is also investing in mobile infrastructure through the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Broadband Fund, the Connect to Innovate program (CTI), and the First Nations Infrastructure Fund (FNIF).

• Under the Universal Broadband Fund Mobile Stream, over $3.5 million in funding for three projects has been announced to provide improved mobile connectivity along 277 km of road.
• The government continues to assess mobile applications submitted to the Universal Broadband Fund and looks forward to making announcements on selected projects very soon.

In 2019, the government committed, through Canada's Connectivity Strategy, to provide every Canadian with access to affordable, high-speed Internet no matter where they live, and to improve mobile cellular access from coast to coast to coast.

The government is supporting the development of mobile infrastructure through the following programs:
• The CRTC’s Broadband Fund includes funding to support projects that build or upgrade access and infrastructure, for both fixed and mobile wireless broadband, in underserved areas.
• The CTI program has projects focused on supporting new backbone infrastructure to help service providers support improved speeds and service quality for mobile wireless users.
• The UBF has set aside up to $50 million for mobile projects that primarily benefit Indigenous peoples, including projects along highways and roads where mobile connectivity is lacking.
• The FNIF is providing $4.3 billion over four years to various projects, including connectivity projects on reserves, that provide backbone networks, local access networks, and satellite equipment.

The CRTC Communications Market Report (CMR) indicates the following mobile coverage of at least 4G LTE across Canada as of the end of 2021:
• Canada overall: 99.7% covered (123,000 people without coverage)
• Rural: 98.2% covered (117,500 people without coverage)
• First Nations reserve Areas: 90.3% covered (37,000 people without coverage)
• Major roads and highways (includes HSPA+): 87.2% covered (14,637 km without coverage)