$72M awarded to North for better internet

Five projects serving 51 communities in northern Canada have been awarded $72 million from the CRTC’s Broadband Fund.

Most of the money, which is subject to conditions, will flow to a subsidiary of Canada’s largest telecommunications company and the remaining $9.9 million will go to a community-based service provider in northern Manitoba.

In total, the Canadian Radiotelevision and Telecommunications Commission says the money will improve internet access services for more than 10,000 households in 51 communities, most of them Indigenous.

CRTC chairman Ian Scott said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for reliable communications networks.

“This is really important, more important than ever in the current environment and we’ll be working hard to get out decisions as fast as we can,” Scott said in an interview.

Four of the projects that were announced Wednesday were proposed by Northwestel Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada.

The Northwestel projects include: $4.1 million for eight satellite-dependent N.W.T. communities; up to $16.8 million to bring high-speed fibre connections to 18 N.W.T. communities; $2.86 million to improve satellite service in Old Crow, Yukon; and $38.5 million to improve fibre service to 19 communities in Yukon.

The fifth project, covering five communities in northern Manitoba, was proposed by Broadband Communications North, which is governed by representatives from tribal councils, regional political organizations and independent Indigenous communities.

The Broadband Fund is designed to help provide service in places where it would be unprofitable to build them without assistance.