Broadband Services to Nunavut communities will not launch
by Christmas

IQALUIT, NU December 9, 2004 – The Board of Directors of the Nunavut BroadbandDevelopment Corporation (NBDC) regrets to announce that broadband services will not be available in Nunavut communities by Christmas as originally planned. Although negotiations between NBDC and the federal government for satellite bandwidth assistance have been successfully concluded, formal approvals are still needed before the funds can be released.

“NBDC has done everything we can to get this network started, and will continue to work toward a successful launch” said NBDC Chair Patrick Tagoona. Once we have firm paperwork on the satellite funding assistance in our hands, we will be able to launch about three weeks later.”

The federal Throne Speech made it clear that Northern infrastructure, such as broadband, is a priority. The Government of Nunavut and several federal departments have actively supported NBDC’s efforts to launch the community broadband service in a timely manner.

In the NBDC business plan approved by Industry Canada in April of 2004, satellite assistance of $750,000 per year was promised under the National Satellite Initiative in order to provide reasonably priced broadband services. However, completing the contract details for this assistance has taken longer than expected.

To date, equipment installations have been completed in 20 communities. Weather permitting, the physical installation and testing will be completed in all 25 communities before Christmas.

A trained Community Service Provider is ready and waiting to sign up customers in each community. When the network is launched, customers who are registered will be the first on the list for receiving broadband service.

Click HERE to download the pdf version of this press release.

For more information, visit the NBDC web site at:
www.nunavut-broadband.ca

or contact:
Lorraine Thomas, Project Manager
Ph. (867) 979-1303, fax (867) 979-1508
Email: lorraine@nunavut-broadband.ca