The RDN (Regional District of Nanaimo) has been blamed for the lack of cell service, however Telus is also at fault. Over a year ago the Town of Qualicum offered both Rogers and Telus the top of the water tower on Village Way for a cell tower to provide better service to Chartwell, Eaglecrest and part of French Creek.
Rogers took the town up on it and now provides adequate service in these areas while Telus declined and their customers continue to have minimal service.
Are you also aware that this Sunrise Drive site is part of a two-smaller tower model proposed by Telus?
Due to the tower size, it will not allow for co-location nor will the one tower provide cell service to all of French Creek.
If you are a TELUS customer that has poor cell service and live anywhere near French Creek Landing — which is where the second tower was proposed to go — odds are your cell service won’t be improved much by this Sunrise Drive tower.
Those of us who are opposed to the Sunrise Drive site are opposed to it because it will result in three towers in the area (two Telus towers and one Rogers tower).
We want Telus and Rogers to co-locate on one tall tower, which Rogers has already secured a location for, that will provide the necessary cell service for the entire area.
The RDN asked Telus to co-locate with Rogers over a year ago and rather than working with the RDN and Rogers, Telus ignored them and planned to move forward with the Sunrise site anyway.
Had Telus worked with these parties a year ago, there would likely be a solution to this cell service issue rather than the RDN being required to take drastic action to force Telus to listen to them.
Genelle ConnFrench Creek