IQALUIT – Northwestel will officially launch its new high-speed broadband satellite network serving Nunavut October 1st, the company announced this morning.
Iqaluit, Nunavut’s capital and largest community, is the first to have the high-speed network commissioned – and all 25 Nunavut communities will have access to the network in the coming months, said the company in a press release. Industry Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) contributed $49.9 million to the project through its Connect to Innovate program.
Northwestel’s Tamarmik Nunaliit network provides up to 20 times more capacity to Nunavut communities than its previous generation C-Band satellite network. The network uses Telesat’s recently launched Telstar 19 Vantage Ka-Band satellite, which uses high-throughput spot beams to deliver significantly more Internet capacity to remote communities, reads the release.
Northwestel will offer 15 Mbps Internet packages beginning next month, which will include 100 GB of monthly usage, for $129 per month. The company (which is a Bell Canada division) will also begin to offer a new 5 Mbps package for $80 per month.
Iqaluit will be the first community to receive the new Internet packages beginning October 1st. Residents can pre-order at the Nunavut Trade Show beginning on September 19 (Ed note: the press release announcing this launch erred in saying customers can pre-order online, but pre-ordering can only be done in person at the Trade Show). The new 15 Mbps service will be available in Cambridge Bay, Arviat and Rankin Inlet by the end of the year and in all Nunavut communities in 2019.
LTE, too
Alongside Northwestel, Bell Mobility is now trialing its LTE wireless network in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet and 13 more communities are expected to be connected by the end of the year. Bell plans to offer LTE coverage in all 25 Nunavut communities in 2019, added the release.
These broadband and wireless moves by Northwestel will increase competition in the region already serviced by companies such as Ice Wireless, SSi Micro and Xplornet.
“I am pleased to see this investment to raise internet access within the territory, and I will continue to advocate for increased broadband and connectivity with our partners across the country. Our people and our economy depend on it,” said Lorne Kusugak, Nunavut’s Minister of Community and Government Services, in the Northwestel release.
“Our communities need this service to do business, upgrade their education and build stronger communities,” added Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, quoted in the same release.
“Northwestel is proud to deliver the next generation of satellite Internet to Nunavut in partnership the Government of Canada and the Government of Nunavut. This Tamarmik Nunaliit network will significantly improve broadband Internet services for schools and health centres across Nunavut while enhancing access and innovation opportunities for residents and businesses in every community,” added Curtis Shaw, Northwestel president.
