Matawa Chiefs Council Urges Rogers to Delay 3G Shutdown, Calling It a ‘Matter of Life and Death’
The Matawa Chiefs Council, representing nine First Nations in northern Ontario, is urging Rogers Communications and the CRTC to delay the telecom giant’s planned 3G network shutdown, warning that it could endanger lives in remote communities.
In a letter to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the council said the Dec. 31 shutdown could “pose serious risks to the safety, health and well-being” of northern residents who already face unreliable phone and internet connections.
“Reliable communications infrastructure is a matter of life and death in our communities,” said Chief Sonny Gagnon of Aroland First Nation.
Several Matawa member communities, including Eabametoong, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, Nibinamik, and Webequie, are remote and rely heavily on limited connectivity for emergency communication and essential services.
Chiefs seek extension until 2027 and Indigenous-led upgrades
The council is calling for a delay in Rogers’s 3G shutdown until January 2027 and immediate federal funding for Indigenous-led telecom upgrades through Rapid Lynx Broadband, a Matawa-owned company.
“Our Nations cannot be left behind as Canada moves forward,” said Chief Solomon Atlookan of Eabametoong First Nation. “We are ready with a Nation-led solution through Rapid Lynx Broadband, but we need immediate support.”
Chief Bruce Achneepineskum of Marten Falls First Nation said the shutdown could be catastrophic:
“Cellular service is a lifeline in Marten Falls First Nation. It is unacceptable that we could be potentially cut off at the end of this year.”
CRTC and telecoms respond
A CRTC spokesperson confirmed the commission is reviewing the Matawa letter and will determine next steps.
“Cellular service providers, independent of the CRTC, decide which communities they serve and which technologies they deploy,” the commission said in an emailed statement.
Rogers said it has been contacting affected customers and offering free device upgrades to move them to 4G LTE or 5G networks without changing their plans.
Bell said it is prioritizing LTE upgrades in areas that still rely on 3G, particularly to ensure 911 service continuity, while Tbaytel confirmed its own network will not be affected by Rogers’s timeline.
Connectivity gap in northern Ontario
Experts warn the shutdown could deepen the digital divide across the north. Susan Church of the Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation said many Matawa communities still lack LTE and 5G access, leaving them dependent on 3G.
“Without 3G availability, they’re not able to have the cell service that they need,” Church said. “It’s going to be bad, and there’s going to be blind spots. That’s the tragedy of it all.”
Only 23 per cent of northern Ontario had LTE coverage as of 2022, and just five per cent had access to 5G. Church estimates that upgrading to Indigenous-owned infrastructure would cost about $28 million.
“They absolutely must be willing to work with First Nation communities,” Church said. “This is a social obligation, not just a business decision.”
