WHITEHORSE – Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Bell Canada, condemning the telecommunications giant for its substandard cellphone service in the territory over recent months.
In a letter addressed to Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic, Pillai highlighted the frequent dropped calls and poor coverage that Yukoners have been experiencing, even in the heart of Whitehorse, the territorial capital.
Pillai emphasized that Bell, which owns the majority of cellphone towers in the Yukon, has failed to meet residents’ expectations. He pointed out that the unreliable service could pose serious risks during emergencies. The letter, also shared with the media, stated that in 2024, it is unacceptable for telecommunications providers to deliver such poor service in downtown Whitehorse.
In response, Bell issued a statement on Thursday acknowledging the concerns raised by Premier Pillai and affected customers. The company assured that it is taking the issues seriously and is working diligently to resolve the network problems.
“We are investigating and working as quickly as possible to resolve these network issues,” the statement read. “We will continue to update our government partners and impacted customers. As we complete network upgrades to add 4G and 5G service in the region, customers will have access to improved speeds and reliability.”
Premier Pillai reiterated in a public statement that the ongoing issues with dropped calls and lack of transparency from service providers are unacceptable. He urged Yukoners to stand firm in their frustration.
“With nearly all of the cellphone towers in the Yukon owned by Bell Canada, they need to answer for the dropped calls, delayed texts, and patchy internet connections that Yukoners keep experiencing,” Pillai stated. “In emergency situations, reliable cellphone service can be a matter of life or death, and Bell needs to live up to their obligations mandated by the CRTC and do better.”
Source: Canadian Press
