Major New Contributions for Internet Service in Nunavik

Kuujjuaq, Québec, July 30, 2015 – Mary A. Pilurtuut, Vice-Chairperson of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), was present at an announcement today by Denis Lebel, the federal Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Pierre Arcand, the Québec Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord, regarding new investments that will help extend basic Internet service for Nunavik residents, businesses and organizations via satellite technology until 2021.

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“More than a decade ago, the KRG launched Tamaani as the first region-wide Internet service provider. Since then, the Internet has become a vital communications tool in Nunavik,” stated KRG Vice-Chairperson Mary A. Pilurtuut. “But even with this phase four project, we must not forget that regional Internet service continues to lag behind the country’s urban centres and that this situation must be corrected.”

The Tamaani Internet phase four project will make it possible to renew satellite broadband Internet service with the region’s current supplier, double home Internet service speed from 1.5 megabits per second to 3 megabits per second, and replace aging local distribution networks in every community. The new service is expected to be available by September 2016.

The governments of Canada and Québec have respectively committed $15 million and $11.5 million to the Tamaani Internet phase four project, while KRG including Tamaani contributions to the project will be $9 million. Through monthly fees, Tamaani Internet users will also contribute about $30 million over the next five years to cover the costs of service operations.

The Internet plays an essential role in every aspect of modern life in Nunavik, from the delivery of health services to education and public services, as well as for businesses and residents. The comprehensive vision of regional development set out in the 2014 Parnasimautik Consultation Report calls for solutions to the region’s long-standing telecommunications challenges, which stem largely from dependence on expensive satellite technology. The next step in Internet service development in Nunavik must therefore involve fibre optics. Such a network is technically feasible and financially sound, and would pave the way for further meaningful economic and social development in the communities. The Plan Nord relaunched earlier this year by the Québec government has targeted a fibre optic solution for Nunavik. The KRG plans to continue working with Québec and Canada to make fibre optics a reality in the communities.

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Contact:

Emilie Courtemanche Carle
Communications Officer
Kativik Regional Government
media@krg.ca ; www.krg.ca

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