British Columbia’s Northern Development Initiative Trust is investing in a new subsea fibre-optic cable to enhance the resiliency of connectivity along the northern coast.
The Trust will invest as much as $24 million in GwaiiTel to enhance network capacity, improve service stability and ensure residents, First Nations and local businesses have access to high-speed Internet.
Jointly owned by the Haida Nation and local government partners, GwaiiTel has decades of experience managing connectivity on Haida Gwaii, ensuring that infrastructure decisions remain rooted in local perspectives and deliver lasting benefits to island communities.
“This investment strengthens our partnership between the Haida Nation and all island communities and ensures that this critical infrastructure is 100% owned by the people of Haida Gwaii,” said Gaagwiis Jason Alsop, President of Haida Nation. “This additional connection to the mainland will ensure our communities have stable access to reliable, high-speed internet.”
The GwaiiTel Haida Gwaii subsea fibre-optic project will deliver a dedicated, high-capacity connection between Haida Gwaii and the mainland northern coast, creating a more reliable network for the region’s digital infrastructure. It will strengthen essential online services that communities rely on every day, including remote health-care delivery and telehealth; emergency response and public safety; government services; education and online learning; tourism and local business operations; and community and social networking.
“Coastal First Nations understands the importance of having dependable high-speed Internet connectivity available in all our communities across the coast,” said Christine Smith-Martin, CEO of Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative. “GwaiiTel has served the island for decades and is well positioned to lead the development of this crucial link from Haida Gwaii to the mainland, which will contribute to the socio-economic well-being of the entire community.””
Construction is set to begin in spring 2026.
