Get ready Manitoba! Rogers to launch province wide network March 31

By: RogersMiranda

February 2nd, 2011 a 4:46pm

The countdown is on for more Manitobans to get their hands on the latest smartphones including Android, iPhone, BlackBerry and tablets for the first time on Rogers world class 3G+ network. Starting March 31, we’ll be launching our reliable network bringing 96 percent of Manitobans access to a new province-wide high speed voice and data network.

In several areas, for the first time, Manitobans will be able to own and use the latest smartphones, tablets and mobile broadband devices and experience mobile Internet service at download speeds of up to 21 Mbps.

While we already offer service in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba, this expansion allows us to upgrade our existing coverage area to high speed HSPA+/3G+. It also allows us to expand into new areas like Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon and more.

To check out a future network coverage map of Manitoba, go here.

If you live in Manitoba, what smartphone are you interested in getting?

UPDATE (March 31, 2011, 12:53 p.m.): As of today, the Rogers wireless hi-speed network has grown 150 times bigger in Manitoba. All existing coverage in the province has been upgraded to hi-speed HSPA+ and new overall coverage areas including Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon, Nelson House, St. Theresa Point and Highways 6 & 10 have been placed in-service. Manitoba customers who have an HSPA device can now benefit from improved quality of voice coverage as well as mobile internet and data services at download speeds of up to 21 Mbps. Full coverage details are available at rogers.com/coverage.

Miranda MacDonald is a regular contributor to RedBoard

Rating: 3.5/5 (20 votes cast)

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17 Comments

Rick says: February 2nd, 2011 a 5:16pm

I can only hope N follows M so that New Brunswick is next for 3G…. Enjoy it MB!
Spooky Lurker says: February 3rd, 2011 a 1:24am

These buggers have been flicking the 3G switch off and on in my area. Drives me bonkers. If they really offered the service in the southern area, other than Winnipeg and my area when they switch it on, I would have a lot better 3G coverage than they claim to offer. Tsk tsk.
kurz says: February 3rd, 2011 a 10:58am

I’ve been satisfied with 3G in Winnipeg for a while. Is 4G LTE coming anytime soon? Since Rogers is the only telco offering iphones in Manitoba, I’ll be sticking with Rogers for some time to come.
- RogersMiranda says: February 3rd, 2011 a 11:53am
  
  Thanks for your business! As for LTE, we have no firm dates to communicate at the moment. When the market is ready to go to LTE we’ll be there first.
  
  We announced our first technical trial back in October here on RedBoard. You can see our post here: http://redboard.rogers.com/2010/rogers-announces-first-lte-technical-trial-in-canada/
  - Imagine Engine says: February 6th, 2011 a 7:59pm
    
    Miranda,
    
    Recommend keeping readers on Rogers Red Board up to date on how Rogers LTE development is progressing since this is one of the hot topics for consumers, besides competitive pricing and Nationwide coverage. Instead of reading on how Rogers LTE development is progressing on Red Board I instead read on GSMWorld.com that Rogers reached 70 Mbps with the LTE testing. Keeping us in the loop will help retain customers as well help us forecast budgetary expenses for LTE hardware (i.e. cellphones, USB Modems, tablets)
    - RogersMiranda says: February 7th, 2011 a 9:55am
      
      Thanks for the suggestion. When we have news to share on LTE, we’ll let you know.
Cody says: February 3rd, 2011 a 5:29pm

Too little too late. My iPhone shows 3G service from Sasktel since late last year while I’ve NEVER had service with Rogers at the farm EVER (I visit there once every few weeks). After 8 years waiting for service, too little too late. I hope 3G will actually be more stable and faster than EDGE, when the network would randomly show up here in Brandon and at the farm, the upload speed was SLOWER than EDGE! I hope that’s been fixed for launch..
Sean says: February 3rd, 2011 a 10:50pm

Sorry Miranda but Wind Mobile just announced today or yesterday that they have completed their testing of LTE for them and they seem to be going full force. Looks like they got it complete first. I’m with Rogers and hope LTE comes sooner than later.
- rob says: February 4th, 2011 a 11:05am
  
  when they complete their NATIONWIDE network(y’know, outside of a few cities), let us know.
  
  being the first to say they’ve completed some tests means zip. They rushed their tests, and as usual will launch the network before it’s ready, seems to be their mantra…
JonnyDub says: February 4th, 2011 a 10:49am

Sweet, I’m so pumped! I live in Southeastern Manitoba and have an iPhone 4. Only being able to get 3G in Winnipeg has sucked (I only go there once a week). Now I’m counting the days….
Imagine Engine says: February 6th, 2011 a 8:09pm

It’s great to hear that Manitoba is going to get province wide HSPA+ coverage. Their coverage prior to this announcement was so full of holes it looked like swiss cheese on the coverage map. Since I travel frequently it would be nice to see HSPA+ coverage expanded in other provinces such as BC, SK, ON, PQ, NL. The latter NL of which has no coverage which is a surprise.
- Dogger says: February 22nd, 2011 a 8:00pm
  
  Agreed… but Rogers doesn’t care. We are just wasting our time by talking about it.
JOhn says: February 7th, 2011 a 3:23pm

Can we have upgrades done in New Brunswick Please? 3G is terrible here and it’s only available in 3 cities (moncton, freddy, and saint john), while Bell/Telus has 3G coverage province wide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Randy says: February 8th, 2011 a 11:04pm
  
  In Newfoundland Rogers’ is even worse. Coverage is in only the tiniest fraction of teh province, and spotty even where it is. It seems Rogers has completely given up on Newfoundland and have allowed Bell and TELUS to virtually control wireless there.
Randall says: February 8th, 2011 a 4:41pm

The Pas coverage will it be larger than depicted in the coverage map? There is another community literally right beside The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation. I know myself and many others would love a better internet experience than what is currently offered here.
Chris says: February 16th, 2011 a 4:17pm

What about expanded HSPA+ (or even 3G) coverage in Sask, when is that going to happen? I rarely leave Saskatoon, but when I do, the edge data speeds are a little less than stellar.

And I haven’t been to Manitoba in *years* ;-)
Ray says: February 18th, 2011 a 4:39pm

I hope they boost the service in WPG too. I switched to Rogers 3 years ago only to find my phone does not work in my office, I have to go down the hall. I NEVER had this problem with my MTS phone. Reception was always great. Perhaps a few more towers are need here Mr./ Mrs. Rogers????