Distributel vows to seek other opportunities to bring residential services to remote, underserved regions
MONTREAL – Distributel Communications is partnering with Eeyou Communications Network (ECN) to bring high speed Internet, TV and home phone services to more than 4,000 homes in northern Quebec.
A not-for-profit corporation founded in 2004, the Eeyou Communications Network was established to provide modern telecommunications services and to develop the social economy within the 14 communities of Eeyou Istchee and James Bay for the benefit of the population, institutions and local businesses.
Starting this spring, Distributel said that it will launch the triple play service bundle using the new ECN Fibre-to-the-Home network to the Cree communities of Eeyou Istchee and to the municipalities of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region at pricing “comparable to similar residential services in Montreal and Quebec City”.
The services will include high speed Internet with speeds of up to 1 Gbps, home phone with 12 features and long distance included, and a TV offer that includes over 100 channels from Canada, the U.S. and around the world.
Based on solutions from the ECN partnership, Distributel said that it is "committed to looking" for similar opportunities to collaborate with other broadband carriers to bring residential services to other remote and underserved regions and municipalities.
"Distributel is proud to be working with ECN to help close the broadband gap in northern Quebec," said Distributel CEO Matt Stein, in Wednesday’s announcement. "Improving access to broadband and other services is essential for improving the quality of life, enhancing economic prospects, and encouraging connected and engaged communities. Bridging the digital divide is a critical issue for Canada and we are pleased to lend our expertise and experience to the challenge, as a pioneer of the independent service provider industry in Canada."
"Delivering High Speed Internet, television and residential phone services over our fibre network in the north is an important first for Canada and a significant milestone for ECN”, added Eeyou Communications Network president Alfred Loon. “In selecting Distributel as our triple play partner, we are joining forces with a national provider that clearly understands the Quebec residential market and that can serve the unique needs of our communities in Eeyou Istchee James Bay.
ECN fibre crosses the North: Eeyou Istchee/James Bay region of Quebec – Map of the 3,500 KM Eeyou Communications Fibre Network
