A fiber optic system for communications is possible in Canada's eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, according to a new study, but it would cost more than $1 billion to install.
The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation released the study Wednesday. It offers two scenarios for the territory – one would serve 24 communities in Nunavut and cost $1 billion. The other would be for the Nunavut communities of Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Resolute and cost just under $350 million.
A fiber optic system for communications is possible in Nunavut, according to a new study, but it would cost more than $1 billion to install.
The Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation released the study Wednesday. It offers two scenarios for the territory – one would serve 24 communities in Nunavut and cost $1 billion. The other would be for Cambridge Bay, Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet and Resolute and cost just under $350 million.
Douglas Cunningham, the president of Arctic Fibre, said the study backs up what his company has already been saying.
"Fiber is the only technical option for Iqaluit and Nunavut going forward. Satellites simply can't provide sufficient bandwidth at a reasonable cost," he said.
The report recommends a back-up satellite in case fibre wires are broken.
The satellite would also serve communities which wouldn't have access to the fibre optics system.
Oana Spinu, who is with the Nunavut Broadcast Development Corporation, said it's important to make sure all communities have equal access.
"If you have a system that provides great access for a handful of communities, I think that poses cultural, economic, and other challenges to Nunavut as a whole because you don't have this kind of equality and sharing," she said.
Spinu said federal investment may be necessary due to the high cost.
She said she hopes the report will be part of a larger discussion about Arctic communication.
This story is posted on Alaska Dispatch as part of Eye on the Arctic, a collaborative partnership between public and private circumpolar media organizations.