New firm guns for GN contracts

The Qikiqtaaluk Corp. has bought out Iqaluit's two local Internet service providers, Comguard and Nunanet, to create a new company: Qikiqtaaluk Information Technology Corp.

QITC, which opened shop April 1, bought from Nunanet the rights to be Iqaluit's service provider for Qiniq, which provides wireless Internet to about 800 customers in town. The new company also hired several of Nunanet's employees, and has retained Nunanet's founder, Adamie Itorcheak, as an adviser.

Qiniq customers can expect improved customer service, with three more technical staff hired to handle customer concerns, said David Fulgham, the new firm's chief operating officer.

Qiniq customers can also expect new services, such as "digital voice" and wireless hot-spot service at some businesses around town in months to come, Fulgham said.

QITC also takes over from Comguard, which was run by Fulgham, along with the company's business contracts, four staff and other assets. Comguard provided Internet and server access to about 20 small- and medium-sized businesses in Iqaluit.

This commercial broadband service is being improved, Fulgham said, with more repeaters being installed around town.

The new company has its eyes on bigger customers. Right now, the Government of Nunavut hires southern firms for information technology contracts. But QITC, with the financial backing of QC, plans to position itself as a local firm that could do that work instead.

"Those are some of the things we're going after," Fulgham said.

The cost of the deal was not disclosed.