LTE Haute-Mauricie
The LTE Haute-Mauricie project brings reliable high-speed wireless connectivity to remote areas through modern infrastructure and the deployment of an LTE network. Supported by government funding, this project is transforming digital access for communities that have long been underserved. It represents a concrete step forward in stimulating regional development.
The LTE Haute-Mauricie project is a major initiative aimed at improving access to high-speed Internet in remote areas of Quebec. Led by Ecotel (now operating under the name Ambra Telecom), this project has enabled the deployment of a modern telecommunications infrastructure combining fiber optics and LTE network to provide reliable connectivity to rural communities in the Haute-Mauricie region.
Carried out with the support of the Quebec and Canadian governments, as part of the Québec Branché and Brancher pour innover programs, the project was completed in 2024.
This infrastructure directly contributes to reducing the digital divide in the region and supporting the economic and social development of local communities.
LTE and Fibre Optic Infrastructure Deployment in Haute-Mauricie
The LTE Haute-Mauricie project included the construction of a new fibre optic backbone between Saint-Tite and Chambord, as well as the deployment of an LTE network to provide high-speed wireless Internet service in several isolated areas of the region.
As part of this project, 11 telecommunications towers were built to provide Internet coverage to the following communities:
- Lac-Édouard
- Baie-William
- Lac-à-Beauce
- Festubert
- Lac-Chat
- Matawin
- Lac Rainbow
- Parent
- La Bostonnais
- La Tuque
- Saint-Joseph de Mékinac
Thanks to this infrastructure, citizens, businesses, and public institutions now have access to modern connectivity in areas that were previously underserved. And while Ecotel does not offer residential services, it partnered with the service provider Henri to extend this connectivity to the public.
A Key Project for the Development of Rural Areas
Access to high-speed Internet in remote areas has become essential to supporting the vitality of communities.
The LTE Haute-Mauricie project will:
- improve access to digital and government services
- support local businesses and the regional economy
- facilitate telehealth and distance learning services
- increase the connectivity capacity of public and educational institutions
By modernizing the region's telecom infrastructure, this project is helping to strengthen network resilience and support the sustainable development of the Haute-Mauricie region.
Telecom infrastructures designed to accommodate cellular connectivity
Although the initial mandate was to deploy wireless high-speed Internet connectivity via LTE, the infrastructures were designed with a long-term vision.
The towers built as part of the project were designed to accommodate a cellular connectivity, anticipating a second phase planned by government authorities to improve cellular coverage in Haute-Mauricie.
This proactive approach aimed to:
- facilitate the future deployment of the mobile network
- accelerate the arrival of cellular service in the region
- reduce commissioning delays for local populations
The communities of Haute-Mauricie had long awaited reliable access to the cellular network, particularly along major highways and in isolated areas.
A foundation for the Cellulaire Haute-Mauricie project
Following the completion of the LTE Haute-Mauricie project, the Quebec government issued a call for tenders for the implementation of a regional mobile network as part of the Cellulaire Haute-Mauricie project.
In 2025, it was announced that Ecotel had been awarded the contract to carry out this second phase.
The infrastructure deployed as part of the LTE project now serves as the technical basis for the future regional cellular network.