Poor rural cell service leaves Maritimers out of luck in emergencies

Residents in rural parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick report unreliable cell coverage that can hinder emergency help, while Build Nova Scotia says 17 towers have been upgraded and 10 more are expected by the end of 2026.

Residents in rural parts of the Maritimes are raising concerns about unreliable cell coverage and the risks it can create in emergency situations. Three men who helped in a 2025 search for missing snowmobilers were awarded the Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery and spoke about limits to service in the highlands. Provincial agencies and providers say work is under way to add or upgrade towers. Some business owners and residents say they still often lack a usable signal. Reported details: - Three people involved in a Feb. 14, 2025 search for missing snowmobilers in Cape Breton were later recognized with the Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery for their role in the rescue efforts. - Residents and local business owners in areas such as the Cape Breton Highlands and parts of Barrington say cellular coverage is unreliable and that gaps can affect emergency contact and everyday communications. - Build Nova Scotia reported that 17 telecommunications towers have been upgraded and connected to 5G, and it expects 10 more sites to be connected by the end of 2026; New Brunswick has a partnership with Bell to begin work on 10 communication towers early this year. - Officials noted that the 2022 federal ban on Huawei and ZTE equipment required some suppliers to change hardware, which has been cited as a factor affecting rollout timelines. Summary: Officials and residents disagree on how quickly gaps will close. Build Nova Scotia lists completed upgrades and gives a timeline for additional connections, and New Brunswick reports planned tower work to begin early this year. Undetermined at this time is how soon those changes will translate into reliable coverage for all affected rural addresses.