The Ontario government says it will repair and upgrade the province's aging public safety radio network.

Premier Doug Ford says the system, which first responders rely on during emergencies, is prone to daily outages and is in need of modernization.

The network is covers 750,000 square kilometres across the province, including areas in the north where cellphone service is not available.

It helps first responders communicate and co-ordinate during forest fires, police operations and medical emergencies.

The upgraded network is expected to be fully operational by 2023.

The Progressive Conservative government did not disclose how much the project is expected to cost, saying it would be inviting bids from companies interested in taking on the project and didn't want to impact that process.