Expansion of the Inuvik Satellite Station Gets Some Much Needed Fibre Optic Cable
YELLOWKNIFE (July 30, 2014) – The installation of a high-speed fibre optic link connecting communities in the Mackenzie Valley and Beaufort Delta to the fibre grid in southern Canada is one step closer today with the announcement by Minister of Finance J. Michael Miltenberger that the Northern Lights Fibre Consortium has been selected as the preferred proponent to design, build, finance and operate the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL).
The Consortium, led by Ledcor Developments Ltd., LTS Infrastructure Services Limited Partnership and Northwestel Inc., was selected based on the evaluation of proposals submitted to the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) by pre-qualified contractors.
“Investing in state-of-the-art communications infrastructure helps support economic development for the Beaufort Delta and the Northwest Territories,” said Minister Miltenberger. “The fibre link will provide new opportunities for business, including in the e-commerce and high-tech sectors, and allow for the expansion of the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility, a leader in remote data sensing with international clients. The MVFL will also support more efficient and effective delivery of government programs and services such as health care and education to the communities it will connect.”
To ensure the project is able to achieve a planned commissioning date by the second quarter of 2016, the GNWT and Northern Lights will be working together during the next few months on completing survey, geotechnical and other early planning activities in preparation for the design and installation of the fibre link.
“The selection of a preferred proponent and implementation of an early works agreement are important project milestones that will help us meet the planned in-service date for the MVFL of mid-2016,” said the Minister.
The GNWT and Northern Lights will also be working closely with communities along the Mackenzie Valley and with environmental regulatory authorities to ensure that the design, construction and operation of the fibre link will fully meet all environmental requirements.
For more information:
Shaun Dean
Director, Cabinet Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-669-2304
Email: shaun_dean@gov.nt.ca
Background: Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL)
The MVFL route extends from McGill Lake in southern NWT, 90 km south of Fort Simpson, to Tuktoyaktuk on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, a distance of approximately 1,270 km. The system will be installed in two phases: McGill Lake to Inuvik with a planned completion of mid-2016, and an extension to Tuktoyaktuk following the completion of the all-weather highway extension from Inuvik. Seven communities will be served directly by the MVFL, with possible future access to an additional five communities in the region using microwave systems to connect with the MVFL system.
Construction of the MVFL will support the further expansion of the Inuvik Satellite Station Facility by its international partners, positioning the facility as one of the leading sites for tracking and receiving real-time data from polar-orbiting satellites for scientific, mapping, weather surveillance and other purposes.
