- Newest site enhances wireless service along Route 117 and in
Réserve faunique La Vérendrye
- Partnership with Université de Sherbrooke to enable solar powered
infrastructure
VAL D'OR, QC, March 2, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Gestion de
l'inforoute régionale de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue (GIRAT) and Bell
today announced a new cell site located at Dorval Lodge in Réserve
faunique La Vérendrye that will bring improved cellular coverage
along Route 117 between Mont-Laurier and Val
d'Or. The remote site is also part of a research project
with Université de Sherbrooke to
maximize the use of solar energy to minimize generator use in
remote locations without access to electricity.
The newly operational cell site is part of the Mobile A-T
project, a partnership between GIRAT and Bell to add 32 such sites
in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, as well as in the section of
Réserve faunique La Vérendrye located within the MRC de la
Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. Nineteen of
the sites are now in service and the full project is expected to be
complete by the end of spring 2021.
"GIRAT takes great pride in seeing the eco-responsible Dorval
Lodge site come into service," said Alexandre Binette, President of GIRAT. "The
tower is one of 4 sites that will be located in Réseve faunique La
Vérendrye, all part of our project to greatly improve cellular
coverage in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. These broadband mobile
connections are important for the ongoing development of the
region, reducing digital isolation from the rest of Québec and
increasing safety for travellers along Route 117. We hope that
GIRAT's contribution, along with Bell and the Université de
Sherbrooke, can be applied to
other areas where isolation makes mobile service difficult to
enable."
"Bell is excited to work with GIRAT and Université de
Sherbrooke to help ensure Québec
remains at the forefront of wireless innovation, and pleased to
serve the people of Abitibi-Témiscamingue," said Nicholas Payant, Bell's Vice President,
Connectivity and Reliability. "Leveraging our network leadership to
further advance how we all connect with each other and the world,
Bell looks forward to further developing this unique solar-powered
technology for use on cell sites in other remote areas."
The development of the site's solar-powered technology is part
of a partnership between Bell and Université de Sherbrooke through the Interdisciplinary
Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT) to drive broadband
technology research in a broad range of sectors, including smart
energy management, Internet of Things (IoT) and innovative
manufacturing.
"Université de Sherbrooke is
proud to be part of this important project aimed at demonstrating
the promise of using sustainable energy for telecommunication
towers to provide solutions that are more efficient, autonomous and
beneficial to the environment," said Professor Vincent Aimez, Vice President of Partnership and
Knowledge Transfer at the Université de Sherbrooke. "Pairing 3IT's solar energy
expertise with that of the Nergica research institute in Gaspé, we
developed a solar panel and battery storage solution to power this
remote site, allowing us to integrate computer modelling, testing
at 3IT's solar park, and implementation in an operational setting,
which is truly distinctive and highly instructive for our
students."
About GIRAT
With the creation of a broadband network
via the deployment of 1,400 km of optical fibre in the
Abitibi-Témiscamingue region in 2006, GIRAT has been providing
service for over 15 years at speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps
to educational institutions (CSS, CEGEP, UQAT) and municipal and
regional administrations within its boundaries, as well as
non-profit organizations.
About the Université de Sherbrooke
Recognized for its culture
of innovation, its synergy with organizations and its research
activities that address the needs of society, the UdeS is the
leading partner of higher level and regional governments to foster
social, cultural and economic development. What also sets it apart
is the strong growth of its research activities over the past few
years, its successes in technology transfer and its initiatives in
entrepreneurship and innovation in collaboration with the
industrial and social sectors, including the establishment of the
largest solar park dedicated to partnership research in
Canada.
About Bell
Founded in Montréal in 1880, Bell is
Canada's largest communications company, providing advanced
broadband wireless, TV, Internet and business communications
services and the country's leading assets in television, radio,
digital and out of home media. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc.
(TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE). To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or
BCE.ca.
The Bell Let's Talk initiative promotes Canadian mental health
with national awareness and anti-stigma campaigns like Bell Let's
Talk Day and significant Bell funding of community care and access,
research and workplace leadership initiatives nationwide. To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
GIRAT
Marc Buteau
819-763-7569
dg@girat.org
Université de Sherbrooke
Isabelle Huard
819-821-8000 ext. 63395
Medias@USherbrooke.ca
Bell
Vanessa Damha
514-870-6663
vanessa.damha@bell.ca
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada