Telecommunications services are fundamental to economic and social development. The last number of years has demonstrated the heightened importance of connectivity with Newfoundlanders and Labradorians increasingly working from home, learning online, receiving virtual health care, and engaging in e-commerce activities.

While the federal government has constitutional jurisdiction for telecommunications and regulates service providers, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to working with our partners and making smart investments to improve connectivity services, close the connectivity gap between urban and rural communities and improve the social and economic well-being of communities.

Investment in the recent broadband collaboration as well as ongoing cellular infrastructure projects allows the Province to facilitate partnership opportunities with the federal government, service providers and/or other partners to improve broadband and mobile connectivity services for many rural communities that are unserved or underserved, as well as communities facing network congestion.

Rural Broadband

Building on commitments made in Budget 2019; the federal government set a target of reaching 98 per cent of homes in Canada with access to 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload by 2026, and 100% by 2030. To achieve this, the federal government announced several initiatives such as the introduction of the $3.225 billion Universal Broadband Fund (UBF).

High Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy outlines the federal government’s goals, commitments, and actions to improve Connectivity across the country: High Speed Access for All: Canada’s Connectivity Strategy

In February 2022, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Canada announced a historic collaboration to provide up to $136 million to connect all remaining rural households in Newfoundland and Labrador to reliable, high-speed internet. Up to $116 million of this funding came from the Government of Canada through UBF, and up to $20 million came from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

To complement this collaboration, we released Newfoundland and Labrador’s Connectivity Strategy. The three-year strategy is guided by three pillars – invest, partner, and optimize – with associated actions to advance connectivity to households, businesses, and communities in the province by leveraging partnerships with industry, community, and government partners. The strategy prioritizes access to 50/10 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband internet service, which is affordable and scalable for long-term growth as well as improved mobile infrastructure.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Connectivity Strategy

Mobile Wireless Connectivity

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to working with partners to support investments to support strategic investments through innovative and best-fit solutions for connectivity improvements within the province. The Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology (lET) continues to explore innovative and best-fit solutions to reduce connectivity gaps on major highways and in rural and remote communities, where access to power and infrastructure may be a limiting factor in attracting investments in traditional telecommunications projects.

Wi-Fi Hotspot Initiative – Expression of Interest – NEW!

The purpose of the Wi-Fi hotspot initiative is to support enhanced connectivity along highways and in underserved communities with little to no connectivity. As an expansion of a pilot, IET is seeking interest from communities and economic development partners to implement the installation of additional Wi-Fi hotspots that address gaps and deficiencies in connectivity along major highways and in unserved and underserved communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Administered by IET, the Wi-Fi Hotspot Initiative will primarily target communities that do not have or have limited access to cellular service.

There is no deadline for the submission of applications. The EOI will remain open until ten (10) successful pilot projects are awarded or until all pilot funding has been utilized, whichever comes first. IET will provide written confirmation that the submission is received.

For more information:

Wi-Fi Hotspot Initiative – Expression of Interest Document

All communication regarding this Expression of Interest shall be directed to:

Dion Sheppard
Telephone: 709-729-7274
Email: ddsheppa@gov.nl.ca

Previous Initiatives

2023 Cellular Service Improvement Initiative
(CLOSED – No longer accepting submissions. All submissions have been notified)

Phase 1 – Expression of Interest for Communities
(CLOSED – No longer accepting EOI’s)
Communities Expression of Interest Document

Phase 2 – Call for Proposals for Telecommunications Providers
Providers Call for Proposals Document

Technical Services RFP
(CLOSED – no longer accepting submissions)

Connectivity Along Major Roadways Technical Services RFP
Request For Proposals – Technical Services Document

For more information on current or past initiatives, please contact:
Dion Sheppard   Telephone: 709-729-7274    Email: ddsheppa@gov.nl.ca