Old Crow residents will soon enjoy faster Internet service.

Yukon Senator Daniel Lang recently announced a combined investment of $242,500 to improve the Internet capability for the community, 1,000 kilometres north of Whitehorse.

The project is being financed by the federal and Yukon governments and Northwestel Inc.

"Our government is committed to ensuring that all Canadian communities have access to reliable and consistent Internet service,” said Lang.

"This upgrade is just another step in this government's Northern Strategy and it will provide residents of Old Crow with improved access to services like distance learning, telehealth, and online business opportunities.

"Enhanced connectivity in Old Crow will strengthen the community's business, intergovernmental, social and other networks, and provide residents with better access to valuable online resources,” said Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon.

"Our commitment to ensuring Yukoners have access to affordable, high-speed Internet has resulted in Yukon being recognized as one of the most connected broadband regions in Canada.”

"Northwestel is very pleased to be a partner in this Internet improvement project,” said Paul Flaherty, the company's president and CEO .

The company is chipping in $80,000.

"This enhancement in Old Crow will offer residents faster and more reliable service. It is another example of how partnerships can enable Northwestel to continually improve our services for the benefit our customers.”

"The Vuntut Gwitchin government is looking forward to the bandwidth upgrade for Old Crow,” said Paul Doehle, director of information systems for the Vuntut Gwitchin government. Its development corporation is contributing $17,500.

"Decisions we make for the future of our IT department and the path we take on providing IT services for our employees is dependent on adequate bandwidth,” Doehle said.

The $90,000 in federal money is coming through CanNor's Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development program. It focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity-building in the three territories.

The $72,500 in territorial money is from the business and industry development branch as it works towards improving the Yukon's business environment through supporting the development of strategic infrastructure required for economic development.

"Increasing the Internet capability for the community of Old Crow will result in a number of benefits for residents, local businesses and organizations,” the various parties said in a statement.

Those include:

• Better access to online content, creating improved research performance for citizens, businesses and government;

• More effective video and teleconferencing capability, which will help reduce travel costs for businesses and local government;

• Reduced data storage costs on rented servers outside of Old Crow; and

• Increased access to software via Internet download.

Northwestel will be responsible for the installation of the necessary equipment.