In Yukon, 65 per cent of major road distance remains unconnected, including much of the highway between Whitehorse and Dawson City.Taylor Roades/The Globe and Mail
Across Canada, thousands of kilometres of major roads do not have reliable cellphone service.
Roughly 15,000 kilometres – or 13.4 per cent – of Canada’s major roads have no mobile service, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. However, four provinces consider that figure an undercount, and it also does not include thousands of kilometres of gaps on secondary roads.
Reporters Jill Mahoney and Irene Galea have been investigating how many of Canada’s major roads and highways are studded with these cellular dead zones for a recent story. They spoke with Canadians from across the country – truck drivers, parents, government officials, business leaders and industry experts – to understand why this problem persists, and what is being done about it.
They found that these coverage gaps affect countless individuals every day. Lost tourists. Stranded drivers facing mechanical breakdowns. Victims of car accidents and collisions with wildlife. Evacuees fleeing forest fires and other natural disasters, who sometimes also miss vital emergency alerts.
Since publishing the story, we’ve heard from many readers about the dead zones near them, showcasing how widespread the problem is across the country – and we’re opening up the request. We’d like to hear from Canadians who have encountered cellphone dead zones in their local regions. Have you come across major or minor roadways near you that do not have reliable cellphone service? In which ways has it impacted your everyday life?
Share your story in the box below, or send our reporters an e-mail at audience@globeandmail.com. If you’d like to include a photo, submit it using this link.
Have you encountered cellphone dead zones in your area?
We want to hear from Canadians who have experienced roadways and highways without reliable cell service in their local communities. Where are the gaps in mobile service in your region? How has it impacted your life? Share your thoughts in the box below.