Thanks to $150 million in funding announced by the federal government Monday morning in Iqaluit, 3,215 households in Iqaluit and Kimmirut should have access to high speed internet by 2023.
Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo
The Government of Nunavut is pitching in $30 million for the project, which will provide a speed of 1 GB per second.
SA国际影视传媒淚nvesting in infrastructure increases the quality of life of residents and offers employment to people working in construction. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 good for our economy and itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for NunavutSA国际影视传媒� said Minister of Rural Economic Development Bernadette Jordan.
SA国际影视传媒淭his project will see the installation of approximately 1,700 kilometres of submarine fibre optic cable from Nuuk, Greenland to Iqaluit through the Davis Strait.SA国际影视传媒�
Jordan explained that cable would then branch to Kimmirut.
She called high-speed internet a necessity, SA国际影视传媒渕aking on-line learning a real possibility for residents of these communities, as well as smoothly running businesses, and staying in touch with family and friends.SA国际影视传媒�
High-speed internet also aids in the health sector, with remote diagnoses and support for health-care workers, diminishing the stress and costs of medical travel, said Jordan.
SA国际影视传媒淐ommunities that will not have access to the fibre-optic cable will benefit from the reduced usage of the satellite band, thereby providing faster internet, as well,SA国际影视传媒� said Jordan.
NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Minister of Community and Government Services Lorne Kusugak said details on how access to residents, businesses, schools and government offices would be provided would be worked out with providers over time.
SA国际影视传媒淭he announcement today is significant,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavut needs significant improvement on broadband connectivity to enhance services, such as healthcare, education, justice and the list goes on and on and on.SA国际影视传媒�
Kusugak said his department would continue to seek other opportunities for funding to connect other communities to the south.
Nunavut is the only jurisdiction in Canada solely connected through satellite, and Kusugak said the goal is to connect as many communities as possible by fibre optic in the coming years. .
