IQALUIT- Northwestel will begin cellular broadband 3G technical trials at the Nunavut Trade Show on September 25. The trials will help determine what technology Northwestel will use to carry out part of its modernization plan.
Northwestel submitted a modernization plan to the CRTC this past July in which it proposed to invest $273 million across the North. If the plan is approved, Northwestel will bring 3G wireless and high speed Internet services into every northern community. The CRTC is expected to deliver its decision later this fall.
“In the meantime, Northwestel is conducting cellular broadband 3G technical trials to determine how best to bring this technology to the North,” said Paul Flaherty, President and Chief Executive Officer for Northwestel in a news release. "To our knowledge, this is the first time cellular broadband 3G has worked over satellite system”.
Northwestel will use Telesat’s high speed satellite broadband capacity to link 3G cellular service to Northwestel’s internet backbone. Northwestel is inviting visitors to the Nunavut trade show to test the next generation service on a variety of mobile devices that will be provided at its trade show booth.
On Thursday, September 27th from 8:30-10:30 Mark Walker, Vice President of Government and Aboriginal Relations and Business Solutions at Northwestel, will participate in the Conference session on Information Communications Technology. Both events will take place at the Arctic Winter Games Complex in Iqaluit.
