Manitoulin cellphone service getting 7 new towers

Searching for a cellphone signal should be less of a problem on Manitoulin Island by this time next year.

Construction is underway on seven cellular towers between Espanola, Little Current, South Baymouth and Mindemoya, mostly along Highway 6, which winds through the island.

Three quarters of the $5-million project is being paid for by the provincial government. The towers are expected to start sending and receiving signals early in 2014.

Sudbury-based non-profit company NetCentral is putting up the towers.

General manager Morry Brown says all the islanders he's spoken with are excited about the boost in service.

"One gentleman offered to provide land for a tower, because he thought it was very important when out walking, and if something happened, he couldn't communicate with anybody to advise that he was in trouble," Brown said.

He said his company is also working to eliminate cellphone dead zones on the western end of Manitoulin Island, as well as along Highway 144 between Sudbury and Gogama.