IP Cellular Pilot Project

Keewaytinook Okimakanak's K-Net Services is partnering with two remote First Nations in Northern Ontario to construct and pilot a cellular demonstration telecommunication infrastructure initiatives that continues to narrow the telecommunications gap that presently exists in all remote First Nations across the Nishnawbe Aski Nation territory. In discussions with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines team, it was decided to pilot the development of a cellular phone service in two remote communities (one satellite served and the other terrestrially served) that will address the cellular gap that exists in all remote and many rural communities across Northern Ontario. The proposed cellular/mobile solution will deliver cellular and mobile digital services for the local residents in their community and while they are travelling.

The agreed upon pilot project would involve one small remote terrestrially served community (Keewaywin) and one medium size satellite served community (North Caribou Lake). The project includes training and employing one full time cellular technician in each of the two communities and providing full time employment for two cellular network technicians at the network management site in Sioux Lookout.