Northwestel celebrates launch of Satellite Network Portal in Yellowknife

Somewhat humorously referred to by many Yellowknifers as “the giant golf balls,” Northwestel and our partners officially unveiled the Satellite Network Portal (SNP) in Yellowknife to the media and local leaders last month. It is the first facility of its kind in the Northwest Territories capital and is set on the traditional territory of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

Now, before we fill you in on the launch event, let’s get everyone up to speed on the new SNP, who built it, and the impact it is expected to have on our vibrant communities in the North.

What is an SNP?

A Satellite Network Portal uses low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide fast connections to our fibre network across Northern Canada and in some of its most remote regions.

The giant golf-ball-looking things are called radomes. Inside, they host antennas, and the Yellowknife SNP site boasts 24 of them. The radomes at the Yellowknife SNP are Space Frame Radomes, specifically designed to protect the antennas against extreme weather (in Yellowknife’s case, snow and ice).

Who built the SNP?

The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) designed and developed the facility for Eutelsat OneWeb, and Nahanni Construction built it. Northwestel will continue to operate and maintain it on behalf of Eutelsat OneWeb. The project has brought international investment to the North and provided opportunities for local workers.

This development was made possible through our partnerships with the Det’on Cho Corporation, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Nahanni Construction, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the City of Yellowknife.

How will the SNP positively impact the North?

The SNP will reduce latency, increase bandwidth and performance, and create further resiliency in Eutelsat OneWeb’s low-Earth orbit network globally. These outcomes are expected to benefit entities operating in remote areas of Canada, including regional governments and those in the mining, utilities, healthcare, education, and energy sectors.

What happened at the launch event?

The SNP in Yellowknife was officially launched on the afternoon of June 14. Our team members, representatives from our partners, Eutelsat OneWeb and the Swedish Space Corporation, and Yellowknife’s mayor, Rebecca Alty, attended the event. Members of the media, including Cabin Radio’s editor, Ollie Williams, and Connor Pitre from My True North Now, also stopped by.

Photo above- Dan Narey, Business Development Director with the Swedish Space Corporation.

The launch event kicked off with speeches from Michael Proud, Director for Carrier and Enterprise with Eutelsat OneWeb, Dan Narey, Business Development Director with the Swedish Space Corporation, and Deanna Cornfield, General Manager of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link.

Photo above - Deanna Cornfield, General Manager of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link.

Photo above - Michael Proud, Director for Carrier and Enterprise with Eutelsat OneWeb.

Afterwards, Harley McDonald, the Program Manager for Ground Infrastructure with Eutelsat OneWeb, took attendees on a walkthrough of the SNP site and provided an expert introduction to the technology there. Attendees at the SNP launch also saw the Kymeta Hawk U8-LEO terminal, which can be easily mounted to vehicles to provide internet and cell coverage anywhere, including in remote, off-grid areas.

Photo above - Harley McDonald, the Program Manager for Ground Infrastructure with Eutelsat OneWeb.

The launch event was an excellent opportunity to showcase the incredible development of telecommunications technology in the North and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to connecting Northern Canada with technology solutions that link Northerners to each other, to business, and the rest of the world.