Northwestel : Fiber That Empowers

Operating across some of Canada’s most remote regions, Northwestel is on a mission to connect the North through its telecommunication services and products. We link up with Tammy April, VP Strategic Growth, to learn more about the company and her passion for the industry.

FIBER THAT EMPOWERS

“Telecommunications (telecoms) sits at the heart of Canada’s digital economy, and the pace of innovation – especially in Northern Canada – is thrilling.” 

As expressed by Tammy April, VP Strategic Growth, this enthusiasm toward the ever-crucial telecoms industry, which continues to shape the way individuals and businesses alike access daily necessities, is epitomized by Northwestel – the largest telecoms provider in Northern Canada. 

Operating in 97 communities across the Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Northern British Columbia (BC), and Alberta – all of which represent highly diverse and culturally rich traditional Indigenous territories – Northwestel is passionate about igniting the power of the North and providing services and products that connect people and communities. 

“Our operating area covers almost 33 percent of Canada but is home to only 0.3 percent of the nation’s people,” details April. 

“We have some of the harshest weather and climates Canada offers, making our operations and network management extremely complex.” 

The company boasts a team of 550 Northern Canadians, and of the 97 communities it serves, 31 are fly-in, 56 have fewer than 500 residents, and there are more than 19 Indigenous languages alongside countless dialects in its operating area, which spans 3,500 kilometers (km) from east to west. 

In the mass-market space, Northwestel offers internet, TV, and phone services, while, for its business and enterprise markets, it provides a complete suite of custom telecoms solutions, from Layer 1 connectivity through to managed network services.   

Having worked in telecoms for the entirety of her career, April notes that one of the most exciting aspects of the industry is that – like many tech-based sectors – it is constantly evolving both in hardware and infrastructure and in terms of the software and services offered. 

“At the same time, we make a crucial impact on daily lives as people rely on us to connect with loved ones and operate their businesses – now more than ever,” she insights. 

“We’re in a place where fiber infrastructure is becoming critical. It’s taken for granted in urban centers, but it’s something that makes a meaningful difference for people here.” 

CONNECTING THE NORTH 

The telecoms industry is at an invigorating point, with robust and resilient infrastructure providing remote communities access to virtual healthcare, distance learning, and e-commerce opportunities that connect them to the global economy. 

“It is both exciting and fulfilling to be part of a company – and an industry – helping to improve the lives of people in Northern Canada,” April enthuses. 

Northwestel has led the roll-out of world-leading fiber technology in large swaths of the nation, proudly transforming connectivity in many communities. Fiber is the strongest option in telecoms today, as it is low-latency, multi-directional, and future-proof. Unlike copper or satellite, fiber will continue to meet the exploding demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence (AI) workloads, and real-time communication without replacing the physical infrastructure. 

“Across much of Canada, fiber is the backbone of modern networks, whilst in northern communities, its arrival has been transformative,” expands April. 

Although deployment in remote regions is challenging, fiber remains the benchmark, ensuring connectivity is essential for resilience and equity. 

For communities not connected to fiber, Northwestel is deeply engaged in pioneering low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite solutions that extend reliable connectivity to Canadian communities and businesses. 

“Our goal is to blend all these technologies with in-community fiber delivered directly to customers’ homes and multi-orbit satellite technologies providing the backhaul for capacity and redundancy,” explains April. 

This aligns with the company’s mission of connecting the North with services and products that join Northerners to each other, businesses, and the rest of the world. 

“Our mission is rooted in a simple but powerful idea – helping make a Northern Canada where we can all prosper and thrive,” she asserts. 

Geography and climate create unique challenges in this part of the country, but Northwestel works to ensure this doesn’t limit access to education, healthcare, commerce, or culture. Hence, the company invests in world-class technologies such as fiber-powered networks and LEO satellite solutions. 

Connecting the North means more than delivering the fastest internet over the best network; it’s about building resilient infrastructure so Northerners can stay connected during emergencies and thrive in everyday life. 

“We design our services to reflect the North’s diversity and strength. Every km of fiber we lay and partnership we form moves us closer to a future where living in the North means having the same digital opportunities as anywhere else in Canada,” expands April. 

BUILDING THE FIBER RAILWAY 

Connecting communities through telecoms is often compared to the enormity of building the railroad. To accomplish such a feat, Northwestel categorizes its priorities into four sections. 

These include connecting communities to each other and the world through leading technology; seeking a shared pathway to an even better North; striving to have operations that reflect the communities the company serves; and deepening its understanding of the North’s unique Indigenous cultures. 

The success of Northwestel’s endeavors can be directly seen through a handful of recent projects, such as the Every Community Project, Canada North Fiber Loop (CNFL), and its recent rollout of gigabit speeds. 

The Every Community Project has proudly transformed connectivity across Yukon, Northwest Territories, and beyond, bringing the very best internet technology to dozens of remote and rural communities.  

“This landmark initiative was not only about fiber-powered internet, but also about people and the ways stronger connections can change lives. We’re grateful to the many Indigenous rightsholders and government partners who helped make the Every Community Project such a success,” details April. 

In November 2025, Northwestel celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of CNFL, which brought much-needed resilience to the North’s internet and cellular networks. Spanning nearly 4,000 km, CNFL helps protect against disruptions like those caused by natural disasters or other types of damage. 

“Over its first year, the CNFL has already proven its worth,” informs April.   

“Maintenance activities that used to mean downtime for customers now happen invisibly, with traffic rerouting seamlessly while our crew gets the job done. Even when wildfires swept across fiber lines, our investments in brushing and sanding along infrastructure paid off, as our services stayed live, providing Northerners with connectivity they can rely on.” 

Whilst Northwestel is thrilled about the success of both the Every Community Project and CNFL, it has no intentions of slowing down. 

Already, some of its internet customers in Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Atlin, BC, are enjoying speeds of one gigabit per second (Gbps). In 2026, the company will be announcing the arrival of gigabit speeds in even more communities – another milestone for the North and a significant achievement for Northwestel. 

One such example of the company making a crucial impact on local communities is its work in Atlin. 

“Before 2023, Atlin lived with what could only be called limited connectivity – no modern terrestrial internet connections and absolutely zero cellular service,” details April. 

That changed when responsibility for local services moved from a southern carrier to Northwestel, which set to work closing the digital divide with the installation of a fiber line. By December 2024, fiber transport to Atlin was complete, enabling a Bell Mobility cellular service in the community.   

In 2025, FTTH internet services became available, allowing the community to be the first in Northern Canada to enjoy gigabit internet speeds. 

Ultimately, the company has many more bold plans to upgrade infrastructure in communities in Northern BC – and it can’t wait to get started. 

ASSERTING ARCTIC SOVEREIGNTY 

Important to Northwestel is the topic of Arctic and Canadian infrastructure sovereignty. 

“Canadians are coming to the realization that we need to be able to stand on our own two feet in an increasingly complex world. One of the big topics of this national conversation is Arctic sovereignty,” expands April. 

“For us, the message is clear: telecoms isn’t just infrastructure – it’s a strategic asset, vital to Canada’s security and sovereignty in the North.” 

It’s also an important example of dual-use infrastructure, which can benefit both civilian and military applications. 

Some of the key points the company is championing include asserting sovereignty through connectivity, enhancing security and emergency responses, advancing scientific research, and strengthening economic and geopolitical influence. 

Specifically, to support military and security forces, fiber networks and LEO satellites can provide secure, resilient communication channels for military operations and search-and-rescue missions. To support military and security forces, fiber networks and LEO satellites deliver secure, resilient communication channels for operations, enhance search and rescue missions, and strengthen surveillance and intelligence gathering efforts. 

As Northwestel continues to look toward a connected, empowered future, it has a number of priorities and goals to reach, such as rolling out faster gigabit speeds in more places and advancing its mission to expand satellite community connectivity to meet the broadband standards of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), including unlimited monthly data. 

“We want to expand our fiber footprint into Northern BC, implement the CRTC’s northern internet subsidy – which will see internet rates decline – and support our government partners to assert Arctic sovereignty, which cannot happen without local infrastructure investment,” concludes April. 

“Ultimately, our goal is to connect Northerners with the world. Going forward, that continues to be both our opportunity and challenge.”