Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc. has struck a $67-million deal to provide satellite internet service to businesses in the territory.
The Ontario-based communications company announced the deal Feb. 1.
It’s a partnership with OneWeb, which provides the satellites.
OneWeb uses low-orbit satellites to provide internet to people in remote areas, similar to Starlink. But Galaxy Broadband will focus on internet for businesses, organizations and governments in Nunavut.
That service is expected in Iqaluit by March, said Doug Harvey, vice-president of business development, sales and marketing for Galaxy Broadband, in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.
“It just made sense for us to be able to lock up that bandwidth and deliver this service,” he said.
The company aims to have all 25 Nunavut communities in service by the end of the year.
Galaxy Broadband already offers satellite internet to mining companies, such as Agnico Eagle, so expanding further North was the next step, said Harvey.
He said low-orbit satellites provide connections less latency, which is the amount of time an internet connection lags.
OneWeb satellites have a 140 millisecond latency, while before low-orbit satellite internet was available in Nunavut, latencies were closer to a 650-millisecond range.
This will be better for work features, such as virtual meetings, according to Harvey.
“That’s going to make a big difference,” he said.
Galaxy Broadband has reached out to federal, territorial and municipal governments, Harvey said, however he declined comment on those discussions.