High-speed Internet and 4G wireless in every Northwest Territories community

News release

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, May 14, 2018Rural and northern communities have unique infrastructure needs. The Government of Canada recognizes that the availability of high‑speed Internet infrastructure is critical for economic development and access to essential resources and services such as health care and education for those living and working in the North.

Federal, Territorial, community and private sector leaders are celebrating the completion of the Northwest Territories (NWT) Broadband Infrastructure project that saw every NWT community receive 4G wireless and high-speed Internet service.

This project is delivering high-speed Internet connectivity and wireless mobility to all 33 communities in the Territory. The project significantly increased the potential for innovation and economic development, helping small-business owners to connect with new markets, allowing for better access to more health services, and providing students with the ability to broaden their studies.

The project addressed gaps in the delivery of enhanced Internet by providing increased usage packages, new satellite-based DSL Internet services, as well as advanced mobile Internet (4G) services. Faster Internet connections will ensure that residents across the Territory have access to more sophisticated multi-media applications, such as tele-education, video-conferencing and e-commerce.

Quotes

“Broadband Internet is key for 21st century communities. The Government of Canada is proud to be part of this important project that provides NWT residents with improved Internet access to a wide range of services, stimulating economic development and enhancing Northern Canadian’s quality of life.”

Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“We have overcome many challenges with an end result that NorthwesTel’s network is now able to provide true broadband Internet (as defined by Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) in all NWT communities. This project has consistently met or exceeded all targeted timelines and performance standards, allowing more than $3 million to be re‑profiled to move Deline, previously the largest satellite‑based community in the Northwest Territories, to microwave‑based service and providing additional upgrades to the Mackenzie Delta.”

Darrell Beaulieu
President and CEO of Falcon Communications

“The completion of this ambitious project shows what can be accomplished when governments, communities and private sector partners work together to improve people’s lives. NorthwesTel is proud to have partnered with Falcon Communications and the Government of Canada to deliver faster Internet speeds, more bandwidth and wireless mobility to every single community in the NWT.”

Curtis Shaw
President, NorthwesTel

Quick facts

  • The Government of Canada contributed $14,814,120 for the NWT Broadband Infrastructure Phase 2 project through the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF) and Falcon Communications contributed $19,443,406, with support from NorthwesTel Inc. and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

  • For Phase 1 of the project, the Government of Canada contributed $7 million through CSIF towards the purchase of satellite capacity to enable Internet service delivery to NWT communities without broadband access. Falcon Communications and its partners contributed $2,721,600.

  • The Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

  • $2 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million will be delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.

Associated links

Contacts

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
brook.simpson@Canada.ca

Matt Wallace
Manager of External Communications
NorthwesTel
1-867-455-4209
media@nwtel.ca

Darrell Beaulieu
President
Falcon Communications GP Ltd.
867-920-2764
beaulieu@denendeh.ca
Web: denendehinvestments.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

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