A proposed telecommunications project could bring expanded wireless coverage to parts of Haida Gwaii, including long stretches of Highway 16 between Masset and Sandspit.
Rogers Communications has proposed building a series of new wireless installations along the highway corridor as part of a broader plan to extend its network across the islands. The proposal includes eight new wireless sites, six of which would require the construction of new tower structures.
One of the proposed sites would be located near the south end of Mayer Lake, roughly 600 metres from Highway 16 on Crown or Haida land. According to project materials circulated as part of the consultation process, the site would include a 53 metre self-supporting telecommunications tower equipped with antennas capable of supporting both 4G and 5G service.
The tower would sit inside a fenced compound with a small equipment building at its base. The installation is intended to improve wireless coverage along Highway 16 southeast of Port Clements and help fill gaps in service between communities.
Project documents indicate Rogers reviewed whether existing structures could host antennas in the area but found none of sufficient height to provide the required coverage.
The Mayer Lake site is one of several proposed installations along the Highway 16 corridor as Rogers works to expand its wireless network across Haida Gwaii.
To gather feedback from residents, the company held a series of public open houses in February. Sessions were held in Masset on Feb. 24, Port Clements on Feb. 25 and Skidegate on Feb. 26, where residents were invited to review the plans and ask questions. Written comments on the proposal were being accepted until March 12.
Some residents who attended those sessions say the project is still in the early planning stages. Participants reported hearing that the broader network buildout could still be several years away, with full operation potentially around five years out depending on approvals and construction timelines.
Several provincial referrals related to the project are also underway. Provincial records show Rogers has applied for licences of occupation for the communication tower site, as well as associated infrastructure including a short gravel access road connecting the site to the Alliford Bay Forest Service Road and a powerline connection to supply electricity.
If approved, the Crown land tenure for the communication site would run for a proposed 30 year term.
Some residents have also asked whether the proposed towers could affect existing cellular service from other providers such as Telus. Telecommunications towers in Canada are regulated federally by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and companies that build towers must generally allow other licensed carriers to request space on the structure, a process known as tower sharing or co-location. Existing cellular networks operate independently, meaning the construction of new towers does not remove or replace service from other providers. The proposed installations are intended to expand Rogers coverage along Highway 16 on Haida Gwaii, an area where Rogers currently has limited or no service. Other carriers could potentially install equipment on the same towers in the future, though those decisions are made separately by each provider.
Under federal regulations, telecommunications towers fall under federal jurisdiction rather than municipal zoning, though companies must still consult with local governments and Indigenous authorities as part of the siting process.
If completed, the network expansion could significantly improve wireless connectivity along portions of Highway 16 that currently have limited cellular coverage.
