Residents of Haida Gwaii will see internet speeds increase in the near future thanks to a $24 million investment from the Northern Development Initiative Trust.
The investment will support development of a new subsea fibre-optic cable by the GwaiiTel Society to improve connectivity on the islands. The project is expected to benefit residents and business owners by making internet service more reliable.
The project will improve the lives of Haida Gwaii residents, Minister of Citizens’ Services Diana Gibson said.
“Reliable connectivity is essential to the economic and social prosperity of communities across Haida Gwaii. Through partnerships with the Council of the Haida Nation, GwaiiTel and NDIT, the province is advancing resilient, dependable internet services that support community needs now and into the future.”
GwaiiTel is partly owned by the Haida Nation and has been providing connectivity on Haida Gwaii for decades, Haida Nation President Jason Alsop said.
“Since 2006, GwaiiTel has provided the people of Haida Gwaii with reliable fibre-optic connection between communities to support services for businesses, health care, emergency services, education and maintain important social ties to family and friends,” he said
“This investment strengthens our partnership between the Haida Nation and all island communities and ensures that this critical infrastructure is 100% owned by the people of Haida Gwaii. This additional connection to the mainland will ensure our communities have stable access to reliable, high-speed internet.”
Construction on the project will begin in the spring and will greatly benefit the Haida people, MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii Tamara Davidson said.
“I’m proud to see this investment support the work that Haida Gwaii has been leading for decades. Strengthening our fibre backbone means strengthening our future, and when families have reliable internet, kids can learn without interruption, parents can access services more easily and households can stay connected. This is about improving quality of life for everyone on the islands.”
