Minister eyes 2031 completion date for Nunavut fibre internet project
Federal telecommunications regulator backs GN’s proposal to connect 4 communities to Nunavik’s network
Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie says he’s looking at a 2031 completion date for a proposed fibre optic network that would connected Iqaluit and three other communities to high-speed internet. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Four Nunavut communities could get high-speed fibre optic internet in about six years, says Community and Government Services Minister David Joanasie.
Once completed, the project would connect Iqaluit, Kimmirut, Kinngait and Coral Harbour to Nunavik’s Tamaani Internet network via an underwater cable near Salluit.
“It’s going to take a couple of years to link up all the communities,” Joanasie said in an interview Monday.
“Our current timeline to get everything done, according to our statement of work, we’re looking at up until 2031 to have it completed by.”
The CRTC announced last year it conditionally approved $271.9 million for the project.
One condition was that Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., which is responsible for ensuring obligations made to Nunavut Inuit under the Nunavut Agreement are upheld, must express its support as the Indigenous rights-holding organization in the region. In the commission’s Feb. 27 decision, it said it received a letter of support from NTI on Jan. 31.
In the letter, president Jeremy Tunraluk said NTI “fully supports” the project. He said it wants to work with the GN to ensure Inuit are full partners in its development and governance and are helped by its economic benefits.
Now that the Nunavut government has the backing of the CRTC, the next steps include starting the permitting process and issuing a tender for a proponent to take on the project, Joanasie said.
While the network would include four Nunavut communities, he said it will connect to more than “80 anchor institutions” such as schools, libraries, health centres and community learning centres.
As well, with Iqaluit being Nunavut’s most populous community, a fibre network would offset the city’s reliance on satellite internet and free up satellite service bandwidth for the other communities.
“I thank my MLA colleagues for having supported us advancing this project to date and we’ll keep them updated as things progress,” Joanasie said.
Excellent news! If only we had a fully indigenous owned telecommunications company with experience in large scale telecoms infrastructure projects that the GN could rely on.
Been hearing this for 15+ years, i am now at the stage where I will believe it when it when i see it
Start link is already here we don’t need $500 a month fibre
And what happens when Furhur Musk decides to turns the satellites off to Canada when the 100% tariffs on his garbage-mobiles kick in? Ontario has already cancelled their Starlink contracts…
The Ontario government $100 million contract with Star Link was for installation and equipment only.
The 15,000 residents and business owners in remote Ontario indigenous communities were responsible for paying the monthly internet service fee.
The contract Break fee is unknown, but could range $1 million to $3 million or higher depending on negotiations. If only someone told Ford to “chill out’‘.
Not sure where you’re getting that price from… fibre is almost always better than LEO satellite (like Starlink), except in a very few specific situations. Having more options and redundancy is good. However, now that Starlink is here, I’m a lot less eager for fibre. Sure, it might be slightly better than what I currently have. But who’s going to provide the service? I happily ditched Northwestel after years of dealing with their garbage company, and would happily keep a slightly worse product in order to not return to them.
Starlink satellites have a 5 year life span once used up they are useless and more would need to be sent up
Yeah? So more are sent up… what’s your point? The satellites are getting cheaper to make and deliver (especially once Starship starts deliveries), and it’s still cheaper than getting fibre to these communities, let alone the rest of Nunavut. Good to have multiple options, so I welcome fibre, but Starlink is and will continue to be the main option for the majority of Nunavut for the foreseeable future.
Ah yes, Starship…with 4 explosions out of 8 attempts, should be good-to-go any day now.
Your lucky you only waiting 15 years at least there is some movement, in the kivalliq the MLAs, GN, KIA, have dropped the ball for many decades for the Kivalliq road, the fibre link transmission line, but wait the KIA built a 60 million prefab house plant in Arviat YAAA finally something.
Same. Now with Starlink being here and offering what we wanted from fibre for so long (unlimited bandwidth and faster speeds/lower latency), I don’t really care about fibre projects. I hope they do it as it’s important for infrastructure, but I won’t be following progress with anticipation.
I wish I could be excited about this…. but the two biggest landlords, Northview and Nunastar are not going to do anything to help us residents actually use this internet.
2 hours after the fibre is installed a Chinese ship will cut the line.