The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flonners are enjoying a crisper cell phone reception now that MTS has launched digital cellular service in the community. The communications provider initiated the enhanced coverage Friday morning, replacing its analog service. "This is part of our commitment to improving and enhancing the coverage and services that we have in northern Manitoba," said MTS spokesperson Michelle Bailey-Picard. Not only does the digital service strengthen the cell phone signal, it also extends battery life and allows residents to use newer cellular technology like camera phones. It's also an upgrade in terms of privacy protection. "For some people, there's always that concern that somebody could hear their cell phone conversation," said Bailey-Picard. "So the digital service certainly provides a much more secure network service." MTS has installed its cellular equipment on its tower along the Perimeter Highway near the Green St. turnoff. The company had hoped to utilize a different, undisclosed location, but those talks did not bear fruit. The digital service extends about 30 kilometres south of Flin Flon, meaning a number of cottagers should have access. Nearly all Manitobans ? 97 per cent ? are now in range of digital coverage. "What we're seeing is, because we've been doing an aggressive rollout of the digital service, there's a lot more continuous coverage," said Bailey-Picard. MTS has spent about $625,000 to bring the enhanced coverage to Flin Flon, Thompson and The Pas this year. The service is set to expand to four more Manitoba communities before the year is out: Reston, Rossburn, Shoal Lake and Birtle.
