On Friday, the federal government announced an additional $7 million to improve high-speed internet in Nunavut.
SSi Micro will receive almost $5 million while Northwestel will get close to $2 million.
This investment will enhance internet connectivity and affordability for more than 9,800 households in all Nunavut communities, according to the Government of Canada.
Northwestel residential internet customers in Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay and Arviat will see their bill go down by $20 a month starting this month, said Paul Gillard, Northwestel’s vice-president of business markets.
The federal government stated that it has now committed more than $208 million to four internet connectivity projects in the territory.
“While more work will need to be done, this is another key step to close the digital divide for the thousands of Nunavummiut who rely on QINIQ broadband. We are committed to accomplishing this and to delivering on Canada’s Connectivity Strategy to further improve broadband services in the North,” Dean Proctor, SSi Canada’s chief development officer, said of Friday’s announcement.
Canada’s Connectivity Strategy, a federal government initiative, aims to provide all Canadians with access to internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 10 Mbps upload.
“Affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service is an essential part of the daily lives of Nunavummiut and all Canadians and it critical to their success,” said Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal. “We will continue to make investments like these to help connect every Canadian to the high-speed Internet they need.”