Satellite Dish & Wireless Antenna, Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut

NBDC’s Unique Role

Nunavut Broadband Development’s Corporation’s (NBDC) objective is to ensure every Nunavut resident has access to affordable broadband services delivered by the private sector. As a not-for-profit corporation, NBDC has initiated the development of one of the most advanced broadband and Internet networks in the world.

As a not-for-profit corporation set up to serve Nunavut residents, NBDC is eligible to access investment from the Government of Canada for the Nunavut public’s benefit under a program managed by Infrastructure Canada.

2009 - The Need for More Broadband in Nunavut…

Today, almost every business, organization and over 1/2 of all residents are hooked up to broadband. Banks, retails outlets, small business, governments and the public have come to rely on broadband every day, and push the boundaries of networks. This is good news – Nunavummiut are leaping into the knowledge economy at astonishing rates. However, existing broadband networks require additional investment in order to meet the growing demand for this essential service that contributes to the cultural, societal and economic health of the entire territory. NBDC is addressing this through its 5-year business plan “Managing Bandwidth – Nunavut’s Road Ahead”. In January 2009, Infrastructure Canada and NBDC signed a 5-year Contribution Agreement which, when combined with matching funds from the Government of Canada and private business, constitutes an investment of $43,202,000. This is NBDC’s second major collaboration with Infrastructure Canada, referred to as Infrastructure Phase II.

Infrastructure Phase II

The Infrastructure Phase II Project is designed to ensure quality of service to the end user. In developing the plan, NBDC set out to:

1. demonstrate how the public benefits from specific broadband projects;
2. show how the investment will reach the end user in improved services in a documented reporting process;
3. ensure all projects are properly tendered so that services can be delivered by the private sector in a fair, open, competitive process;
4. Identify what contributions Project Champions bring to advanced broadband projects;
5. Create an accountable, streamlined process so that investment can flow into Nunavut for improved broadband services for public benefit.

Infrastructure Phase II Objective:

NBDC worked with Project Champions across Nunavut to identify the exact needs of people, organizations and sectors that have plans for increased use of broadband tools over the next five years (See Executive Summary).

We thank the 200 people who took the time to fill in the comprehensive survey on current and future uses of broadband in Nunavut. We also thank the 50 people who attended the in-person workshops held in Cambridge Bay, Rankin Inlet, and Iqaluit in February of 2008. Their input guided the development of new services required for Nunavut’s future.

NBDC is working with various levels of government to develop a streamlined process to match the needed investment with end user needs. The NBDC process will ensure that investment in broadband infrastructure flows to private sector vendors in open and fair procurement processes. The ultimate goal of the NBDC process is to ensure the end user receives the full benefit of any public investment, so that users of broadband in Nunavut can meet their social, cultural, economic, educational and quality of life objectives.

5-Year Business Plan (2008-2013) – “Managing Bandwidth – Nunavut’s Road Ahead”

Download the Executive Summary of NBDC’s plan, “Managing Bandwidth – Nunavut’s Road Ahead”

Background on why Nunavut needs broadband, and some recommendations from Nunavummiut are included below, taken from the Executive Summary of the NBDC Business Plan.

Immense Geography - Small Population

Nunavut is Canada's newest territory, located in the central and eastern Canadian Arctic. At almost 2 million square kilometers, Nunavut is by far Canada's largest jurisdiction, covering 20% of Canada's land mass, with a population density of .0133 people per kilometre.

The 27,000 people of Nunavut live in 25 remote communities - with no roads linking them together. Eighty-five per cent of the population are Inuit. Nunavut spans almost the full width of Canada east to west, and from north to south, it is immense. For example, the distance from the northernmost community of Grise Fiord to the southernmost community of Sanikiluaq is equal to the distance between Vancouver and Dryden, Ontario.

High cost for Travel

The majority of travel between communities is done by expensive air travel, with flights regularly exceeding the cost of traveling from Toronto to Frankfurt. Weather delays and the sheer distance between communities mean many days traveling to attend meetings.

Because of our vast land, we must communicate at a distance on a daily basis - using whatever communication tools are available. Communication costs are embedded in all of our activities. Nunavut stands to benefit from broadband more than any other jurisdiction in Canada.

Broadband connections between Nunavut communities and the south will play a critical role not just in communications, but for economic development, national security, and sovereignty as a whole.

Needs analysis calls for true broadband

In the preparation of the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation business plan, we conducted an extensive needs analysis. Everyone saw the obvious benefits of broadband in distance education and training, governance, land claim implementation, business development, marketing, tourism, arts, and family connections, given Nunavut's vast geographic area.

What is not obvious is the absolutely critical role broadband can play in providing access to communication tools that truly meet Nunavummiut needs. Inuit have an oral tradition - they communicate best using visual and oral media. English, text-based Internet favour non-Inuit forms of communicating - forcing Inuit to adopt non-Inuit communication styles in order to benefit from slow-speed Internet.

Broadband supports oral culture

Broadband access will allow people to visually and orally connect in a way that slow, English text-based Internet connections simply won't allow. Inuit recognize the potential for visual two-way communication tools that would be effective in the management of Nunavut, and in the strengthening Inuit culture.

As the majority of the population, Inuit need communication tools that will allow them to be effective in governing Nunavut, developing businesses, accessing education, and managing the amazing land and water of Nunavut.

Need affordable, sustainable broadband with access to training

The key messages we received in our needs analysis research were:

• Nunavummiut will use broadband effectively - particularly higher end applications like desktop videoconferencing and document sharing;
• Broadband must be affordable to the end user - comparable to prices in southern Canada;
• Appropriate training and public access in communities is needed to make full use of broadband.

Private sector delivery with local involvement

NBDC has calculated the demand for broadband, and has developed a plan with the private sector to build the infrastructure required. Particular emphasis has been placed on assisting local companies and organizations in Nunavut to be involved. We know for broadband delivery to succeed in our communities - we need to develop local expertise to support the network, the public using broadband applications, and local community economic development.

Public funds to kick start infrastructure

Our business plan outlines how we can build an adequate broadband infrastructure that meets Nunavummiut needs - at a reasonable cost. Once installed, our community organizations, Inuit organizations, businesses and residents will most certainly connect. Initial infrastructure funds will get Nunavut started on the broadband road, and Nunavummiut will keep it sustainable.

2003-2008 Infrastructure Phase I – Building The QINIQ Network

NBDC’s first major initiative was the QINIQ network to serve the public. Infrastructure Canada’s National Satellite Initiative (NSI) contributed to NBDC to assist in covering a portion of the high costs of satellite for the initial needs of the QINIQ network (built by SSI Micro, who won the competitive RFP to build QINIQ in 2004.) The NSI was set up to help defray the extremely high cost of satellite connectivity to northern communities, in an attempt to provide users with affordable communication services. Every dollar contributed by the NSI has been spent on satellite bandwidth.

The QINIQ network was launched in 2005 as NBDC’s first broadband project. It consists of tangible assets such as satellite dishes as well as applications that use the infrastructure. QINIQ serves all 25 Nunavut communities, and has 4,000 subscribers – half of all households. To find out more about the QINIQ network, or to subscribe, visit www.qiniq.com.

Support by Community Service Providers (CSP)

Through the QINIQ network, every Nunavut community has a trained CSP to provide local support and assist in administration. 20% of the QINIQ customer revenue is allocated to the CSPs. Eighteen of the 21 CSP companies involved are Inuit-owned.  To find the CSP in your community, visit http://www.qiniq.com/get-connected.

Funding for the QINIQ Network and NBDC activities

NBDC has conducted R & D in a wide range of applications and processes, as well as capacity building training for CSPs. The chart below shows the source of investment for both the QINIQ network and NBDC’s work from 2003 to 2008.

The immense success of the QINIQ network, the need for continued advocacy for broadband services to residents, and increasing financial responsibility means NBDC must increase its own capacity. NBDC continues to develop the broadband sector in Nunavut for the benefit of residents and the economy, and we are working to increase NBDC’s capacity to help the broadband sector evolve.

How Broadband Access Got Started: Developing the First NBDC Business Plan 2003

In the development of the NBDC Business Plan in 2003, we heard from people all over Nunavut-providing written feedback, phone calls, emails, and even petitions indicating their need for broadband services.

We thank the 300 people who took the time to fill in our questionnaires - giving us a fantastic base to determine Nunavut's needs for broadband. We also thank the almost 400 people who signed petitions from communities across Nunavut. The information received and support from members of our communities was critical to the development of a solid business plan.

For those who wish to become members of NBDC - please read About NBDC for full details.