Federal investment of over $86 million to provide 11,650 homes in Nunavut with access to unlimited high-speed Internet
Reliable and affordable high-speed Internet is essential for all Canadians. It enables access to important online resources, connects friends and families, and drives economic growth and innovation.
That is why today, the Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, announced over $86 million in federal funding for a Northwestel project that will bring unlimited high-speed Internet access to 11,650 households, reaching all 25 communities in Nunavut.
This funding is being provided through the Universal Broadband Fund, a program designed to ensure that all Canadian households, including those in rural, remote and northern communities, have access to reliable high-speed Internet.
To achieve this important milestone, Northwestel will partner with Telesat to secure high-speed Internet capacity through the company's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, Telesat Lightspeed. The Government of Canada and Telesat entered into a $600 million agreement to secure high-speed Internet capacity through the constellation, which will use next-generation technology to significantly improve connectivity across the country. Through the agreement, the Government of Canada is making capacity available to Internet service providers like Northwestel to help connect the most challenging rural and remote communities, including those in Canada's North and Arctic regions.
Today's announcement also builds on the government's plan, developed in collaboration with territorial and Indigenous partners, to transform the North and to take full responsibility for defending Canada's Arctic sovereignty. Through this investment, thousands of Inuit will have stronger, more connected communities. The government is working in partnership with Internet service providers and Indigenous communities to build a united, connected North.
Better, more reliable connectivity will improve access to important online resources, help bridge the digital divide and increase safety for northern communities. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that every household in Canada has access to high-speed Internet by 2030 and is on track to meet its connectivity targets. This Universal Broadband Fund project is building toward that goal, and the government will continue to invest in infrastructure that creates new opportunities and makes sure communities can benefit from all of Canada's potential.
