Fibre optic line project cost updated
A reported tabled in the legislature last week provides a second estimate to run a fibre optic line up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, N.W.T.
A reported tabled in the legislature last week provides a second estimate to run a fibre optic line up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik, N.W.T.
The consulting firm Stantec has estimated the cost at $40 million, or $8 million more than the $32-million estimate put together by Northwestel Inc.
Northwestel’s estimate was provided in October, when the Yukon government announced it had decided to link up with a new fibre optic line being laid up the Mackenzie River Valley instead of tying into Alaska’s system.
Stantec’s report was completed in September.
A second connection to the south is meant to provide a back-up to Northwestel’s fibre optic line that runs up the Alaska Highway.
Steve Sorochan, the Yukon’s director of technical and telecommunications development, said Friday Northwestel is currently refining its project estimate. The company is not expected to have it complete before the end of the month.
How the fibre optic line will be financed and who will own and operate it are still details that have to be worked out, he said.
Sorochan said discussions also have to occur with the newly elected government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government – talks that won’t happen until next month.
Construction of the line will take two years, he pointed out.
“The financing and partnerships have to be nailed down before you get a start date for the project,” Sorochan said, adding construction is expected to begin next year.
He explained that linking up with the Mackenzie Valley would provide redundancy for both territories.
Dependency on a single fibre link to the south has caused problems on numerous occasions in the past when the line has been cut accidentally.
That’s usually occurred during excavation work on unrelated construction projects along the route.
The N.W.T. is in the final stages of completing the fibre optic link between Yellowknife and Inuvik.
Comments (2)
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Lost in the Yukon on Dec 8, 2015 at 3:44 pm
The pharmacist and his merry band of elves appear to very interested in assisting NWTel in maintaining their monopoly. One has to ask that if true - why? Who benefits now and down the road?
As with Question Period where the pharmacist and his elves refuse to answer legitimate questions, don't expect them to come clear on this issue.
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yukonertoo on Dec 8, 2015 at 6:02 am
What a great idea to create another mainline fiber optic line to the Yukon. The only way to justify the $40 million cost of construction is to break Northwestel's monopoly in the territory. Ownership of the line must also be kept with the citizens of the Yukon. Northwestel has been the recipient of more than enough public money over the years and that any more "corporate welfare" directed to this predatory corporation would be a travesty. The term "competition" is antithetical to Northwestel.