Modernization plan a ‘fair balance:’ Flaherty

Northwestel Inc.'s modernization plan is a “fair balance” between the needs of consumers, the company, and its competitors, Paul Flaherty, Northwestel's president and CEO, told a panel of commissioners Monday. “The modernization plan cannot be everything to everybody. The key is finding the fair balance.” Flaherty said at a CRTC hearing in Inuvik, N.T.W., on Northwestel and northern telecom services. “ achieving the best overall result that delivers the most benefit for the most people while ensuring a positive business case which enables sustainable development for the North.” Flaherty said Northwestel's customers want “next generation” wireless and Internet services while its competitors want modern landline infrastructure and access to Northwestel's major fibre links. Under the company's modernization plan, he said, the company would roll out fourth generation wireless services to 83 communities and improve broadband speeds in 58 of the company's wireline-connected communities. The plan would also upgrade its landline switches in 63 communities, allowing customers in 73 communities to keep their phone numbers if they switch providers, and to expand the company's “Wholesale Connect” backhaul service from 30 communities to 58. Flaherty said another 38 “satellite communities” would have access to high-speed Internet from either Northwestel or its competitor, SSi Micro Ltd., though “at lower speeds than the Commission’s targets of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.” He said the cost of satellite backhaul, which connects those communities to the worldwide Internet, is “the big challenge” to improving service speeds. “It would be so extraordinary that people wouldn't be able to afford it,” he said of the backhaul costs when asked about improving those speeds. The CRTC ordered Northwestel, a BCE Inc. subsidiary, to file a plan to modernize its telecom infrastructure after a 2011 hearing. This week's hearing continues Wednesday in Whitehorse.

Modernization plan a ‘fair balance:’ Flaherty

Brief | June 18, 2013

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