Another example of a community-based networking project – one that emerged at the regional level – is Tamaani Internet Services. Tamaani Internet is a project of the Kativik Regional Government (KRG), which administers the Inuit territory of Nunavik in Northern Quebec. It is a not-profit-profit satellite network managed on behalf of KRG’s constituents, the residents of Nunavik. Along with KO-KNET and Broadband Communications North, Tamaani Internet is a partner in the Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network.
The Tamaani website has an interactive timeline where you can explore the development of the network over time.
Tamaani Internet Timeline (2004-2017)
As with the other initiatives discussed in this unit, Tamaani Internet is the result of partnerships among local communities, network operators, and private and public sector organizations. An article in the Journal of Community Informatics describes Tamaani Internet’s development process as a First Mile initiative. Titled “From the First Mile to Outer Space: Tamaani Satellite Internet in Northern Quebec”, the article outlines some of the challenges and benefits of the regional network for the people of Nunavik.
Thomassie Mangiok (Pirnoma Technologies Inc.) from the village of Ivujivik describes how Tamaani Internet emerged from the unique context of Nunavik. Along with outlining how the regional government established infrastructure in the region’s 14 satellite-served communities, he discusses several broadband-enabled public and community services that are supported through the network, including in areas like health, education, and economic development. The article ends with a short case study of the community of Ivujivik, where Thomassie lives.
The need to keep pace with constantly shifting demands on their network means that Tamaani Internet has faced many challenges over the years. This press release from 2018 announces a project funded half by the Connect to Innovate program and the other half by the government of Quebec in which underwater cable and local fibre-optic networks will replace the less reliable and limited satellite network now in use.
This article from 2020 documents the struggle to maintain bandwidth on an over-burdened LTE network, while still waiting for the planned cable and fibre-optic replacement. The money should come from the federal Universal Broadband fund.
As of February, 25, 2021 it still remained unclear if funding from the Universal Broadband Fund would be forthcoming.
However, on the 19th of March 2021, the CRTC announced funding approval for two Kativik Regional Government transport fibre projects in partnership with Tamaani Internet. These major funding announcements (over $50M) will enable Tamaani network to roll out fibre optic infrastructure to help connect very small, fly-in communities to high-speed connectivity services. KRG chairperson Jennifer Munick stated in a March 19, 2021 press release that:
“This decision shows the confidence the CRTC has in the KRG’s ability to deliver high-speed broadband internet service to Nunavik’s remote communities, and it will go a long way towards reducing the digital divide between Nunavik and the rest of Canada.”
The region’s fibre optic projects remain on schedule to be in operation by early 2022.