Nunavik promised fast Internet by Christmas

By next December, computer users in Nunavik will finally have access to a low-cost, high-speed Internet service that requires no dial-up and can offer a much quicker exchange of information.

That’s what this week’s announcement by Nunavik MP Guy St-Julien means for the region, one of the last in Canada without reliable, rapid telecommunications service.

“A remote community, accessible only airplane or boat, can now travel the Information Highway — an all-season route with no speed limit,” St-Julien said.

Speaking from Kuujjuaq, St-Julien confirmed that the Kativik Regional Government is one of four organizations from across Canada selected to receive access to broadband, or high-capacity Internet, through the federal government’s National Satellite Initiative.

The National Satellite Initiative is intended to lower the cost of broadband for communities in remote areas of Canada, such as Nunavik or Nunavut, where satellite is the only means of providing broadband access.

The program will give the KRG satellite capacity worth $7.86 million over 15 years.

The Nunavut Broadband Development Corp. also wants to receive broadband access through the National Satellite Initiative, but will have to wait until the second round of projects are accepted next fall.

The audio and video of St-Julien’s announcement was streamed on the Internet. From Iqaluit, the bustle of KRG’s conference room and the speeches could be heard, at least, and, despite some technical glitches, the on-line connection offered a hint of changes to come in Nunavik.

The new access to high-speed Internet means video conferences will become the norm in the region because using the Internet will be as quick, easy and almost as cheap as in the South.

“This technology can play an important role in our daily lives, improving the delivery of services in areas such as health, education and business,” St-Julien said.

Each community in the system has its own dish that receives information from a satellite.

For the moment, only KRG offices, airport terminals and the Kativik Regional Police Force stations in the various communities are linked up to its network.

The total cost of the equipment and other infrastructure needed for the KRG project was $4.8 million, bringing the cost per community to about $340,000.

These stations won’t be connected through the new national broadband access until summer.

Until then, the KRG will continue to receive a smaller amount of broadband access through K-Net, an aboriginal group in Ontario, and SSI Micro of Yellowknife.

By next fall, one or more local service provider will plug into the “point of presence” to offer Internet service via cable or call-up.

“The bandwidth is a big piece of the puzzle,” said Joe Lance, director of the KRG’s administration department. “But the last piece will be an agreement with an Internet Service Provider.”

Negotiations continue on a deal with a local ISP that will deliver the Internet to the population.