Rogers Communications hopes to solve poor wireless service in West Vancouver by installing three new 36-metre towers along the Upper Levels Highway.
"Right now 30% of West Van residents have poor to no wireless coverage," said Darren Hird, manager of real estate and municipal affairs for Rogers.
"The strain on the network is exploding, and we're struggling to catch up."
Hird said the hilly, heavily forested topography of the suburb contributes to the problem, as well as the fact that West Vancouver residents tend to own more tablets and smartphones than average.
The company worked with architecture firm Dialog to create a sleek, thin tower that hides the antennas from view. Rogers hopes the cutting-edge design will alleviate concern about the towers being unsightly and hurting property values.
"This is probably the first time in Canada that an architect and design firm has been tasked to come up with such a creative engineering solution," said Hird.
The towers are planned to go up along the Upper Levels Highway at Taylor Way, 15th Street and 26th Street.
Hird said the company has also committed to work out deals with other telecoms to share the towers, so that more towers will not have to be built. Rogers plans to spend $3 million on the project.
Rogers is currently in the public consultation stage of the project and is holding community meetings. The company will likely submit the project to District of West Vancouver council in September.
