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Telecom Order CRTC 2025-337

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Reference: 2023-419

Gatineau, 11 December 2025

Public record: 1011-NOC2022-0325

Broadband Fund – Change request – Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s satellite project in northern Ontario – December 2025

Summary

Canadians need reliable, affordable, and high-quality Internet and cellphone services for every part of their daily lives.

Through its Broadband Fund, the Commission contributes to a broad effort by federal, provincial, and territorial governments to address the gap in connectivity in underserved rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across Canada.

With this order, the Commission approves Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s request to extend the end date for its satellite project in northern Ontario, include four additional satellite-dependent communities within the project scope, and increase funding for satellite operational expenses. As a result of the expanded project scope, satellite capacity is capped at levels set in the accepted statement of work.

Background

  1. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-377, the Commission set out objectives and governing frameworks for the Broadband Fund. In the Application Guide appended to Telecom Notice of Consultation 2022-325, which initiated the third call for Broadband Fund applications, the Commission defined a material change as including a major change in the cost or scope of a project.
  2. Keewaytinook Okimakanak participated in the third call for Broadband Fund applications. In Telecom Decision 2023-419, Keewaytinook Okimakanak received funding approval for its proposed project. The approved application supported increasing satellite transport capacity in two Indigenous communities in northern Ontario (Fort Severn First Nation and Peawanuck First Nation), allowing them to maintain their current Internet services until a planned capital project to build fibre Internet infrastructure could be completed.
  3. The Commission later received written acceptance of the funding award from Keewaytinook Okimakanak and approved its related statement of work in Telecom Order 2024-66, subject to the conditions of funding set out in Telecom Decision 2023-419.
  4. Among the conditions of funding is the requirement, set out in paragraph 39(c) of Telecom Decision 2023-419, that any material changes to the project be approved by the Commission. An application for a material change is known as a change request.

Change request

  1. On 2 October 2025, Keewaytinook Okimakanak submitted a change request. This request seeks to:
    • extend the project end date from 31 December 2026 to 31 March 2028;
    • include the four additional satellite-dependent communities of Fort Hope, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, and Webequie for operational funding from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2027;
    • cap capacity to Fort Severn First Nation and Peawanuck First Nation to include the four additional satellite-dependent communities of Fort Hope, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, and Webequie; and
    • increase satellite operational funding by $2,466,707, bringing the total funding amount to $10,641,707.

Commission’s analysis

  1. The Commission has reviewed the documents submitted with the change request, including those submitted confidentially.Footnote 1
  2. A proposed change in the planned fibre transport infrastructure project for Fort Severn First Nation and Peawanuck First Nation has delayed the original project timeline. A separate delay related to weather and permitting in another planned fibre build in northern Ontario has necessitated the inclusion of four additional satellite-dependent communities (Fort Hope, Marten Falls, Neskantaga, and Webequie) within the broader project scope. There is a public interest in ensuring service continuity to these customers, and the Commission is satisfied that these delays were beyond Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s reasonable control.
  3. The Commission considers that approving Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s change request would satisfy the objectives identified by the approach set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-377.

Conclusion

  1. The Commission approves Keewaytinook Okimakanak’s change request and expects funding for satellite operational costs to end by 31 March 2028 for Fort Severn First Nation and Peawanuck First Nation and by 30 June 2027 for the four additional satellite-dependent communities. All funding conditions and conditions imposed under section 24 of the Telecommunications Act, as set out in Telecom Decision 2023-419, continue to apply.
  2. Keewaytinook Okimakanak must submit a signed agreement with the satellite service provider for Commission review prior to submitting claims for reimbursement.

Secretary General

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