Tbaytel plugs more money into wireless upgrades

TBaytel is ramping up spending on its 4G wireless network.

The company had planned to spend just under $6 million, but now says it will spend more than $9 million this year. Company president Don Campbell said the additional investment will accelerate improvements in wireless service.

He said TBaytel’s efforts to roll out 4G technology have not always produced the expected results.

"With the accelerated efforts, our customers have recently experienced some service disruptions," Campbell said.

"We apologize for the inconvenience and frustration these changes have caused. We are implementing network-wide changes that are designed to reduce dropped calls, increase coverage and lay the groundwork for further improvements."

In the past several months, the company has already improved coverage within the core urban areas of the city, through new cell sites, updates to hardware and software, and modifications to antennae structures, Campbell said. It has also established in-building service at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay International Airport.

A new cell site has been established in Mariday Park, and current work is expected to improve coverage at Confederation College, Westfort, Intercity, Northwood and Current River.

Most of that work should be finished by the end of next month.

The company has commissioned Ericsson, a global supplier of telecommunications equipment, to help implement the network improvements.

In addition, TBaytel has deployed Cellular-On-Wheels, mobile site technology that will provide service in areas where permanent solutions have not been completed. Cellular-On-Wheels will be on the job this weekend at Marina Park for Canada Day festivties. It will also be set up at the Thunder Bay Blues Festival so customers have access to wireless service.

The additional spending announced Thursday brings the company’s two-year investment in the new network to more than $35 million.