WINNIPEG – Broadband Communications North (BCN), a Manitoba-based Indigenous network, today announced a pilot project bringing high-speed Internet to the Manto Sipi Cree Nation.
The project is being completed in partnership with wireless, broadband and satellite solutions provider ROCK Networks and OneWeb and is “the first step in connecting 24 First Nations communities in Northern Manitoba in the next five years,” a press release says.
“The network will be powered by OneWeb’s constellation of low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites,” the release explains. “ROCK Networks will integrate the system into BCN’s existing network. Additionally, ROCK Networks will monitor the connection and provide ongoing support to BCN.”
The plan is to have the service running by the spring. Because there is no access road, to meet this deadline “it is critical that equipment is transported to the community during the ice road season in January and February,” the release says.
“With high-speed internet, members of the Manto Sipi Cree Nation will finally have access to vital services that those in urban areas take for granted,” said Jason Neepin, executive director of BCN, in the release.
“The project will have a monumental impact on the community. Residents will be able to access telemedicine, distance learning, and remote work. Internet access can also improve justice, governance, and economic outcomes in the areas we serve.”
“CRTC data shows that only 4% of Indigenous communities in Manitoba have access to speeds that meet the CRTC’s minimum of 50/10 Mbps,” said Joe Hickey, president and CEO of ROCK Networks. “To us, that number is unacceptable. As a valued OneWeb Canadian distribution partner, we can leverage innovative new connectivity solutions to significantly increase the availability of high-speed internet access in Canada’s rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.”
“This new installation marks a significant milestone in the realization of OneWeb, BCN and ROCK Networks’ shared commitment to bridging the digital divide across Canada,” said Howard Stanley, vice-president, Americas of OneWeb.
“Reliable, high-performance internet service has never been more important or necessary, particularly for the Indigenous and rural communities that still face enormous connectivity gaps. With the innovative power of our LEO satellites and the on-the-ground dedication of our friends at BCN and ROCK Networks, we can help ensure that members of the Manto Sipi Cree Nation and other First Nations communities in North Manitoba – as well people all across the globe – can access the vital services they need, from distance learning to business services to telehealth to telework.”
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