Tag Archives | Northwestel

YKQT 07 – Internet Service Providers

By on June 3, 2010 in Yk Quick Tips

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Yk Quick Tips is your guide to Yellowknife, NT. Whether you are moving to the city,  just visiting or live here, we can offer information about all the best things. The show will contain information about what to do while visiting, things to know about moving to the City and everything else interesting about Yellowknife.

Internet Service Providers are the topic for Episode 7 of Yellowknife Quick Tips and we have all you need to know about this local attraction.

Last week I received an e-mail from a someone who was about to move to Yellowknife. She asked who the Internet Service Providers were in town and if it was possible to get Unlimited Bandwidth.

The two main ISP that I am aware of are SSi Micro and NorthwesTel. That being said, NorthwesTel owns all the internet pipes coming into the north. Therefore, SSi has to purchase the Internet from them and then resell it to residences and businesses. Below is more information about both:

SSi Mirco: Can provide 8gb of bandwidth a month at the price of $59.99. The nice thing about SSi Internet is that they use a wireless system. They give you a modem that connect to their Internet wirelessly, which ultimately means you can take it anywhere in town or where they have coverage. Their wireless modem is also a down fall though. It needs to be in a location it can see the sky and won’t work very well in high traffic areas.

NorthwesTel: Has 3 different options for Cable Internet. Plans ranging from 5gb to 60gb and prices going from $42 to $84. Their cable Internet is, abviously, done through the cable. They install a special modem. NorthwesTel is often times more reliable for steady Internet, but on occasion does has it outages.

Arctic Data: I mention Arctic Data in the show as a reseller of SSi Internet.

Hopefully this answers most of everyone’s question about ISP’s in Yellowknife. If not, please send me an email to info@ykonline.ca or comment below.

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HSPA Bell Network Launch Date Announced

By on November 2, 2009 in City

NorthwesTel just announced on their Facebook page that Bell will launch its brand new HSPA network on November 4, 2009. NorthwesTel retail stores will carry 12 of the fastest and most powerful phones out there. That includes Apple’s iPhone.

So what does this mean for Yellowknifers. Well for starts we will now be up to speed with the rest of Canada when it comes to cell service and will also be able to use all the features equipped with smartphone. Readers, when the new network launches will you consider upgrading your phone?

UPDATE: iPhone Prices with NO plan/Retail Prices

  • 8gb: 599.99
  • 16gb: 699.99
  • 32gb: 799.99

*YkOnline does not guarantee those are correct.

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iPhone is coming to Yellowknife

By on October 5, 2009 in City, FP, Tech

UPDATE: Bell has announced the launch date of its new network and the release of the iPhone. Find out when HERE.

Earlier in the day Bell and Telus released a statement proclaiming they will be bringing on Apple’s iPhone. Currently Rogers is the only service provider in Canada that has the iPhone and is not available in Yellowknife. The iPhone is also the phone that most people want. It beats out Blackberry, Plam and all Windows Mobile phone on the market.

What else does this mean for Yellowknife. Well after feeling like we have been left in the dust, Yellowknife will finally have 3G or HSPA (which is just as fast or faster) service.

Northwestel has put in it first order for 1000 iPhone but is not sure of when they will arrive or the pricing yet. Bell has yet to announce the pricing of the phone.

I will also be updating this post with more information as it becomes available. To read more about Bell and the iPhone read this Globe and Mail article.

Update: Here is the press release from Bell announcing that they signed a deal with Apple

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Cell Service Goes Down

By on September 23, 2009 in City

If you for some reason didn’t notice, this morning cell phone service went down. In this CBC article a NorthwesTel spokesperson said a fiber line owned by Bell was cut just outside of Dawson Creek, BC (which ironically is where I am at the moment). A crew was sent to fix the line but there was no estimate of a time of completion.

Read the full CBC article here.

UPDATE: Approximately 3 hours and everything will be restored to normal. (as of 12:00pm)

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NorthwesTel vs.. SSi NorthwesTel

By on September 2, 2009 in City, Discussion, FP

I’m sure by now everyone who reads this is aware of the upgrade Northwestel has just done to their Internet Packages. I know I was excited even though I am unable to use it where I currently am. They are now offering faster speeds and high bandwidth caps the same as their old packages, which for a heavy user such as myself wonderful news. No longer will I need to continuously check my usage, always in fear of going over.

So that brings us to today and to the article in the Yellowknifer about how SSi considers what NWTel is doing unfair towards them. You see NWTel owns all the cable transporting Internet in to the Northwest Territories and so what SSi does is purchases bandwidth (Internet) as a wholesaler. Now you would think if your are purchasing it in bulk they would be getting the better deal or a more discounted price so that they can afford to resell it to the public. Well that does not seem to be the case SSi says. They believe they are paying 5 times more than what NWTel is offering their Internet Packages for to the public and small businesses. NWTel stated in their advertisements that the rates for small businesses will be going down by 40% and also says that over the last year they lowered wholesaler rates by 35%.

Now personally I have always used NWTel because of a couple reasons. One being it is easy to bundle with cable and second being they offer higher limits and faster speeds. The one thing I do like about SSi though is that portability of their modems. I would also like to point out that the average user does not need more than what SSi offers therefore still making it a semi level playing field. A suggestion would be if you can not match NWTel’s prices would be to focus strongly on something like customer service.

Now as everyone who reads this most likely uses one or the other I would love to get your take on the matter and which provider you use. I can see pros and cons with both and that is the case with most things, how do they affect you?

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