Northwestel is bringing high-speed, unlimited internet to all 25 communities in Nunavut.
With support from the Government of Canada and our partners, we will use world-leading in-community fibre-to-the-home and low-Earth-orbit satellite technology to deliver reliable, future-ready connectivity designed for the Arctic.
“Once complete, Nunavummit will have access to high-speed, low-latency, future-ready internet built for Arctic conditions. The project will create local jobs and training opportunities, build long-term community capacity, and support Arctic sovereignty by keeping traffic within Canada.”
Tammy April, Vice President of Strategic Growth, Northwestel
World-leading technology comes to Nunavut
ᓄᓇᕐᔪᐊᒥ-ᑐᕌᖅᑎᑦᑎᔪᒥ ᐱᓕᕆᔾᔪᑎᑦ ᓄᓇᕗᒻᒨᖅᐳᑦ
Fibre-to-the-home
ᐊᓕᒎᔭᑦ- ᐊᖏᕐᕋᒧᑦ
Much of the existing in-community copper telecommunications infrastructure in Nunavut communities limits the speed and reliability of internet that residents can access today. By installing fibre‑optic cable directly to homes along community utility poles, Sky to Home replaces aging technology with a modern, durable network built to serve Nunavut communities for generations.
|
Copper phone wires X Limited capacity |
Fibre optics ✓ Massive capacity |
Multi-orbit satellite transport
ᓴᓇᓯᒪᔪᖅ ᒫᓐᓇᓕᓴᐅᔪᒧᑦ ᖃᕋᓴᐅᔭᒃᑰᕈᓐᓇᐅᑎᒧᑦ
Once fibre optics are installed in all Nunavut communities, we will connect to multi-orbit satellite transport which brings together multiple satellite technologies into one reliable experience. This will combine low-Earth-orbit satellites from industry leaders such as Telesat and OneWeb with other satellite and terrestrial connections, tailored to local conditions and needs. Each site is designed for resilience, with built-in backup paths, automatic failover, and round-the-clock monitoring.
| Resilience through orbital redundancy: Reduces single-orbit exposure and mitigates issues related to congestion, weather, or constellation-specific disruptions. |
Future proofing: As requirements evolve, solutions can shift between architectures without a full redesign. |
| Performance optimization: Different orbits and transports can be aligned to different traffic types, allowing performance to be tuned by application rather than constrained by geography. |
Canada strong: We will prioritize landing all data in Canada, promoting Arctic and data sovereignty. |
Social and economic benefits
ᐃᓅᖃᑎᒌᖑᔪᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑎᓂ
Local investment:
Northwestel will maximize the use of qualified local and northern services and contractors during the rollout of the Sky to Home solution. There will be opportunities for businesses and individuals involved in accommodation and food services, vehicle and equipment rentals, traffic control, and civil work, among other fields.
Northern presence:
Customers will be served by technicians and customer support living and working in Northern Canada. In many cases, local Community Service Technicians will be trained to maintain the network once operational.
Supporting Arctic security
ᐃᑲᔪᖅᓱᐃᓂᕐᒥ ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᒥ ᐊᑦᑕᕐᓇᖅᑐᒦᑎᑦᑕᐃᓕᓂᕐᒥ
Data security:
Data will be routed through Canada, prioritizing data security in an increasingly complex world. Canadian‑owned fibre and domestic-based ground stations can reduce exposure to potential foreign surveillance, service disruptions, or geopolitical leverage.
Trusted partner:
Northwestel is a northern company working with trusted partners who understand the North. Our teams live and work in northern communities, giving us a direct, long-term commitment to the people and places we serve.
A word from our partners
“Telesat and Northwestel have decades of experience working together to provide essential connectivity to Canada’s North. This announcement today is an important new chapter in our partnership as we work together to deliver secure, high-speed sovereign connectivity to Nunavut’s communities. Telesat Lightspeed will support the digital transformation needed to connect homes, businesses and institutions, helping to ensure Northern communities have the connectivity and more importantly the opportunity to grow and prosper."
Michèle Beck, Senior Vice President, Canadian Sales
“People in Nunavut should have access to the same reliable high-speed Internet that most Canadians take for granted. Today, we’re making that change through a transformative investment that will connect every community across the territory — over 11,000 households — to reliable and affordable high-speed Internet. That means better access to health care, education, jobs, and the ability to stay connected with family and community. This is exactly what building Canada Strong looks like: making sure that no matter where you live, you have the tools to succeed. With this investment, we’re getting that much closer to meeting our goal of connecting 100% of Canadians by 2030."
The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development
Acknowledging our Inuit partners
Northwestel acknowledges that we operate on Inuit land, within Inuit Nunangat, the homeland of Inuit. Inuit have lived on and cared for this land, water, and ice since time immemorial, and we recognize their enduring connection to Nunavut. We are committed to respecting Inuit rights, traditions, and governance, and to moving forward through ongoing consultation and collaboration with Inuit communities and governments.
Learn more about Northwestel’s commitment to reconciliation here.
