Cell phone reception in Newfoundland?

I found this web site to compare the coverage areas of various providers:
http://www.comparecellular.com/ Click on Coverage to get to maps. If you don't have a Canadian phone you will need to know which Canadian companies have agreements with your provider.

Hi: I have Cingular wireless service. They have agreements with Canadian providers Rogers & Fido. I had no problem traveling thru New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, or PEI. Newfoundland & Labrador was another story. Coverage is provided for the Avalon peninsula and extends only as far west as Clarenville. There was no coverage west of there.

Regarding accomodations: Most larger hotels seem to have wireless internet service as well as many B&Bs. Unfortunately I can't provide more exact info as, being retired, it's not something I pay attention to.

The accomodations listing in the excellent travel guide publshed by Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism specifies which establishments have internet. It's available at www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com.

Hope this helps a little.

I have Verizon Wireless and prior to my trip I contacted them and set up service for Newfoundland...well, guess what? it didn't work and i was unable to use my cell phone!

Hi: Using the link supplied by Gavin above, it appears that Aliant and Telus Mobility provide the most extensive coverage for Newfoundland. However, I can't find a US cellphone carrier who an has agreement with either of them.

I think you will find that that Telus and the Bell Mobility companies, including Aliant, have reciprocal roaming agreements with Sprint.

Hi Ron: Thanks for the information concerning Sprint Wireless.

Thanks so much, everyone! it sounds like Newfoundland might not be a good choice for now... Were you able to get cell phone reception in Cape Breton?

I found cell coverage adequate on Cape Breton Island, using the Rogers/Fido GSM network. While there were gaps in coverage on the north end of the island, it was certainly good enough that, if one was travelling around, one should be able to get coverage every day, which is better than your need of coverage "almost every day".

Hi: I'm a Newfoundlander, living west of Clarenville, and my Aliant cellphone not only works in my hometown & around the island, but its roaming coverage worked in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, Quebec, the New England states, mid-Atlantic states, & Florida.
This suggests to me that there must be reciprocal agreements with US carriers-- the company is Bell Aliant, so obviously Bell is the connection-- but I frankly suspect you'll have problems checking on this, just because most American companies haven't heard of Newfoundland. However, wireless internet isn't going to be common in a hotel outside the capital city (St. John's) & Newfoundland is a large island, with plenty of "dead air" spots even if you stick to the main highways. It's not really a Blackberry/Manhattanite kind of place -- although yes there are people here with Ipods & Palmpilots, etc.

Hi - two years ago I was able to use my cell phone in Trinity out on the Bonaivista Pennisula. I may have used it in Bonavista too. I have Cingular. Last year I was able to use my cell phone in Deer Lake. Those are the only places I have tried to use my cell phone. We stay at B&bs. I have found all have internet access and will gladly let you use theirs. Even up in Cape Onion I was able to gete my email - although it was through dial up. I did not have a laptop without so did not try wireless.

We visited Newfoundland in July 2007 and took our Cingular/AT&T Wireless cell phone. It worked fine on the Avalon Peninsula but quit by the time we got to Clarenville. We are returning this year and will be between Deer Lake, Gros Morne, St. Anthony, and southeastern Labrador. Does anyone have any information about coverage in 2009?

Another option if you want cell phone service is to buy a pay as you go phone up there. You can buy them up there much like here in the states - no plan, no contract, no roaming charges, just a per minute fee - usually the same for Canada & the STates. You would then be guaranteed of whatever service is offered.

Western NL is totally covered by operators with the BellAliant connection. My husband ran a consulting business out of Curling, NL and was able to take calls all along the west coast of NL.