Port Coquitlam mayor calls on telecoms to fix shoddy cell service plaguing areas of city

Cell providers need to improve what many residents say is shoddy reception in Port Coquitlam, said Mayor Brad West.

On Dec. 30, West posted to social media promising to pressure major telecoms into fixing the signal issues vexing Port Coquitlam customers.

“I have heard from many residents frustrated by poor reception in parts of the city – so much so that home phones are making a comeback in some areas,” West wrote. “I know many have complained to their provider, but nothing has changed.”

West’s statement appeared to ring true for many readers; with over 200 providing comments about weak signals in numerous neighbourhoods across the city, regardless of which provider they use. 

Dominic Long, Port Coquitlam’s director of community safety and corporate services, said telecom companies have been informed about areas of the city where coverage has been deficient, adding the city is open to leasing municipal lands in order to improve the reception.

Poor reception has been an issue for at least the last few years, West told the Dispatch, highlighting that Mary Hill, Mary Hill Bypass, Citadel Heights, Shaughnessy, and Pitt River neighbourhoods “really stick out” for residents.

“We pay some of the highest costs in the world when it comes to mobile phones,” West said. “It’s not cheap to have a cellphone, and I think it’s pretty frustrating for people when they’re paying a significant amount of money, but then service is very unreliable in their homes.”

He said he has raised the issue previously with Telus, adding the publicity generated by his post spurred both Telus and Rogers to set up meetings with the city to discuss the problems further.

“I think they acknowledge that there’s issues and challenges,” West said. “The question is going to be, what can be done about it?”

A Telus spokesperson said that the company has invested more than $28 million in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody in 2024 as part of a $17-billion investment to expand and improve its network infrastructure and operations across the province.

They confirmed a meeting has been set with West later this month to “understand his areas of concern, discuss planned improvements already in motion, and explore further potential solutions that will enable us to meet the community’s increasing demands for connectivity.”

A Rogers representative told the Dispatch it is: “committed to delivering a reliable, consistent wireless experience for our customers and are always looking to enhance our network, including in Port Coquitlam, B.C.”

West said the city is willing to partner with the telecoms to help find a solution, including things like allowing cellphone infrastructure to be installed on city land, which the city already has in place.

“When I say I’m gonna put my shoulder into it, I’m gonna really put my shoulder into it, because I do think it’s important to people in this city.”