Municipal Council Meets with Build Nova Scotia and Local Government Officials About Cell Service Concerns
(January 9, 2026) – This past Monday, January 5, 2026, Municipal Council kicked off the new year with a meeting alongside representatives from Build Nova Scotia (Build NS) and government officials to receive updates and discuss residents’ concerns about cellular service across Antigonish County. Frustrations have been growing over the lack of, and decline in, cell service as residents wait for reliable coverage that is essential for safety, staying connected, and supporting local businesses and economic development.
President and CEO of Build NS, David Benoit, Vice President of Strategic Infrastructure & Development, Jonathan Veale, and members of the Build NS team met with MP Jaime Battiste (virtually), The Honourable Michelle Thompson and The Honourable Greg Morrow, and members of Municipal Council to share updates and next steps for the Cellular for Nova Scotia Program and to hear and respond to residents’ concerns.
Build NS is responsible for managing many major infrastructure projects on behalf of the provincial government, including connectivity. This work includes two key programs aimed at improving service: the Internet for Nova Scotia Initiative and the Cellular for Nova Scotia Program. As part of these programs, Build NS oversees project delivery and works with telecommunications companies that build and provide services, but does not directly provide or regulate phone or internet services as they are federally regulated.
What we heard
The Cellular for Nova Scotia Program is being delivered in two phases at the same time and has a current investment of $69.2 million in the program.
- Phase 1: Upgrades to infrastructure at 27 existing tower sites and connection to the Rogers 5G network. To date, 16 towers have been upgraded.
- Phase 1A: Construction of 27 new towers by the Department of Emergency Management.
- Phase 2: Currently in the procurement stage, this phase will focus on expanding cellular coverage to areas that are currently unserved by upgrading the 27 new towers constructed in Phase 1A with cellular infrastructure as well as expanding cellular coverage with new carrier owned towers
What does this mean for Antigonish County?
In 2022, Build NS completed a Cell Gap Analysis to assess cellular service levels and identify service gaps across the province. The study found that in Antigonish County approximately 1,500 civic addresses lack cellular service, along with about 83 kilometres of unserved primary roads.
To help address these gaps, Build NS confirmed that three new telecommunications towers are planned for Antigonish County, to be in Arisaig, Malignant Cove, and North Lochaber. These towers will significantly improve cellular coverage in those areas and surrounding communities, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026.
When asked about declines in cellular service in areas that previously had coverage, Build NS noted that this may be partly due to a federal government decision requiring telecommunications companies to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their networks and replace it with alternative equipment, which may not provide the same level of performance.
When asked about roaming, Build NS indicated when someone is outside of their provider’s network, their phone may connect to other networks through roaming, depending on their carrier’s policies. They recommend contacting their service provider for details on its roaming rules.
Build NS reaffirmed its commitment to addressing cellular service gaps and encouraged residents to visit the Build NS website for the most up-to-date information. Residents are also encouraged to review the online FAQ section and submit any concerns or questions through the Cell Service Feedback Form, where all inquiries receive a response.
Build NS records all feedback to understand the issues Nova Scotians face, strengthening the province’s advocacy efforts with telecommunications partners and government regulators.
Visit the Build NS website to learn more and stay up to date on the Cellular for Nova Scotia Program:
https://internet.buildns.ca/cell/
To send an inquiry to Build NS: https://internet-buildns.simplesurvey.com/f/s.aspx…