DiscoverThe DecibelWhy do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?
Why do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?

Why do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?

Update: 2025-12-021
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Across Canada, highways and rural roads are studded with cellular ‘dead zones’. In some provinces, coverage gaps span over 30 per cent of major roads. In some cases, you can’t receive calls and texts for more than 100 kilometres. So when something goes wrong, what do people do?

Today, the Globe’s telecoms reporter Irene Galea and national news reporter Jill Mahoney have been investigating how many of the country’s major roads and highways are disconnected. They explain why years-long public safety risk persists, how it affects the Canadians driving through them, and what is being done about the problem.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com


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Comments (1)

Glen Larsen

what about Starlink?

Dec 3rd
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Why do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?

Why do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?

The Globe and Mail