B.C.’s Transport Minister indicates that warning signs for a lack of cell phone coverage won’t be put up on rural highways anytime soon.

But Claire Trevena says more pressure needs to be put on cell providers to improve coverage in rural B.C.

“I think the real problem about putting up signs is, (cell coverage) is patchy… And so that it is a difficult proposition to say ‘where are you going to put the signs?'” Trevena says.

“One of the things is people who drive these roads, they know there’s no cell service. And I think we need a better explanation to those who aren’t familiar that there isn’t going to be that easy access. But the real thing that we’re working on is working with those cell providers to make sure we can get cell service.

“What we need to do is challenge those companies to say ‘we have the technical ability to make this work.’ They keep they can’t because we have mountains, well there are mountains in other areas. There are mountains in Europe and they still have really good cell coverage in Europe – and much cheaper cell coverage in Europe. So I think that there are many things the companies can do.”

The idea to put up warning signs on rural highways was raised at the UBCM last month by Ashcroft mayor Barbara Roden.

(Photo: backcountrycanadatravel.com)