Last Christmas, Meagan Oosterhoof drove from Ontario to her grandmother's house in rural Manitoba, battling snow and fading light.
About an hour before she reached her destination, she turned off the key on her way. Before negotiating the last stretch of unsigned country road in the growing snowstorm, she had to send a message.
“It's -40 and the van is struggling to stay warm. I've got my three little ones in the back with snow pants and blankets on,” she said.
“The sun is setting, the snow is blowing, and I am texting my family in the area.”
Oosterhof told her relatives to give them an hour to complete the last leg of the journey, and if they were not there by then, to go searching.
The last stretch of the journey is a complete cell phone dead zone.
With this experience, as well as her work in the forestry sector, Oosterhof signed up for a pilot project run by Rogers over the summer. The telecommunications giant was launching a satellite service, offering coverage in areas where it had never been available before.
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This meant Oosterhoff could stay in touch with her family when she went on business trips to remote parts of Ontario's forest grid, or stay connected in highway blind spots.
“As my kids get older and can use their phones more, I can now use my phone more,” she said.
“It's the security that when I'm away – I can still contact my family, I can still talk to them. Mom's not off-planet.”
The full satellite service officially launched Tuesday and covers Ontario and Canada for select applications that have been pre-approved for the Rogers service.
The company's press release said WhatsApp, Google Maps, AccuWeather, X and CalTopo will now work in remote locations using satellite internet connectivity.
“We are proud to be the first and only provider in the country to offer this revolutionary technology to help Canadians stay connected,” said Rogers President and CEO Tony Staffieri.
“Nobody covers Canada like Rogers, and with the launch we're making the service even better, giving people access to the apps they need most, including making WhatsApp calls in places they never thought possible.”
The pilot began in July with a beta version of text messages. Rogers said more than a million text messages were sent during that period, with Algonquin Provincial Park listed as the most popular location for the service in Ontario.
The telecommunications giant says its satellite services cost $15 a month and will be expanded to include data and voice services, as well as 911 calling, for all Canadians.
“Thanks to Google Maps and WhatsApp, we have family chat,” Oosterhof said.
“So it’s not like, ‘Hey, pray for me. If you don't hear from me within an hour, send a search party.” You can follow where I am now; we can chat while I navigate.”
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