Two City-owned sites are poised to feature cell phone towers after approval by City Councillors Monday night. (Image Credit: FreePik)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

can you hear me now?

New cell towers approved for north and rural Nanaimo

Feb 3, 2026 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Amid a flurry of similar projects over recent years designed to improve connectivity, two additional locations are eyed for cell towers.

City Councillors, on Monday, Feb. 2, unanimously supported license of use agreement with TELUS at 1151 Nanaimo Lakes Rd, which is a City-owned property, as well as installation of two smaller towers on a City right-of-way at the Turner Rd. and Island Hwy. intersection.

The Nanaimo Lakes Rd. tower would stand 63 metres, or 206 feet, tall and feature six antennas.

TELUS would rent the portion of land from the City for an annual payment of $17,500 for an initial 10 year period.

Should both the City and TELUS agree, the contract can be renewed twice for 10 years each.

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Public consultation on the project yielded only six comments, with five in support of the project.

Two smaller antenna poles are planned for the east side of Turner Rd., each roughly 15 metres high, with TELUS paying the City $14,000 annually for the space alongside the road.

The initial agreement is for four years, with three renewals possible for five years each.

Proponents received just two pieces of feedback on the project during a round of public consultation, both in support.

While City Council approved the land use required for the towers, the final hurdle is receiving the blessing of the federal regulator, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Monday’s approvals come after a busy 2025 where long-standing concerns regarding cell connectivity in Nanaimo were addressed.

A 63-metre-tall tower recently came online at the Greater Nanaimo Pollution Control Centre, covering a substantial dead zone in local coverage through the city’s north end.

Several other cell phone towers received the blessing of City Council to be built, including initiatives on Mary Ellen Dr., Rutherford Rd., Jingle Pot Rd., and Shepherd Ave. in the Harewood neighbourhood.

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