Consumers, students, government entities and businesses across Northern Canada, including all 25 communities of Nunavut, will have access to expanded broadband capacity following a partnership signed between SSi Canada, the developer-operator of QINIQ broadband and SSi Mobile services in Nunavut, and SES, a leader in global content connectivity solutions.
Under the agreement, SES will provide additional satellite capacity, initially to Pond Inlet and Iqaluit, from its newly launched SES-17 satellite using Ka-band. This builds on existing arrangements enabling SSi Canada to use C-Band capacity from SES’s AMC-18 satellite to connect all 25 communities in Nunavut. The additional Ka-band capacity from SES-17 will be used to enhance services and support further expansion across Northern Canada.
With this partnership, SES and SSi can make an even greater contribution to achieving Canada’s Connectivity Strategy. The goal of the Connectivity Strategy is to connect 98% of Canadian citizens to a minimum broadband service of 50/10 Mbps by 2026 and all Canadians by 2030. A key part of this initiative is the creation of the Universal Broadband Fund to invest in the infrastructure needed to connect all Canadians, including using satellite-based connectivity as cost-effective backbone infrastructure to quickly and effectively connect remote and rural communities.
“We are proactively working to expand our capacity and meet the growing broadband needs of the Northern and remote communities we serve,” said Jeff Philipp, Founder and CEO of SSi Canada. “The additional SES capacity provides support for vibrant cultures and close-knit communities, as well as new opportunities for work, education and access to better healthcare. Our commitment is clear: we are delivering top-quality broadband services today. Our partnership with SES leverages all the resources available to us and shows the progress we can make when working together as part of Canada’s Connectivity Strategy.”
“While the digital divide is real, Canada is taking an innovative and proactive approach to expanding broadband services to every citizen, no matter where they live. This is even more critical as we exit the pandemic and more people are able to work remotely if they have a proper broadband connection,” said Omar Trujillo, Vice President of Sales for the Americas at SES. “SES has a proven track record for providing reliable data services across Canada in a variety of spectrum bands over its satellite fleet, and we are glad to work with SSi on expanding its capacity and footprint across Northern Canada.”