Telecom Order CRTC 2025-8

Ottawa–Gatineau, 15 January 2025

Broadband Fund – Statement of work for SSi Micro Ltd.’s satellite project in Nunavut

In Broadband Fund – Project funding approval for SSi Micro Ltd.’s satellite project in Nunavut, Telecom Decision CRTC 2023-418, 20 December 2023 (Telecom Decision 2023-418), the Commission awarded up to $26,843,533 to SSi Micro Ltd. (SSi) for its project to increase satellite transport capacity in all 25 communities in Nunavut and to deliver universal service objective-level speeds (50/10 megabits per second) in those communities for the first time. The expedited timeline for implementing this project, which proposed to quickly provide significant improvements to existing telecommunications services in Nunavut, was a key factor in the Commission’s decision.
In accordance with the conditions of approval set out in Telecom Decision 2023-418, SSi confirmed in writing its acceptance of the funding award. On 2 May 2024, SSi submitted its completed statement of work package for Commission approval. A final version of the package was submitted on 29 August 2024.

The project proposed in the statement of work does not fully reflect the project that was presented in the original funding application and approved in Telecom Decision 2023-418. Whereas the project’s ability to deliver universal service objective-level speeds in an expedited time frame was a key factor in the Commission’s funding decision, the statement of work as submitted proposes a gradual improvement in service speeds, without a firm commitment to a date by which universal service objective-level speeds will be available in all 25 communities. In addition, the statement of work seeks reimbursement for certain costs that are ineligible.
Given that statements of work are submitted in confidence, a detailed description of the Commission’s concerns with the statement of work will be communicated to SSi by confidential staff letter.

Having reviewed the documents submitted, and for the reasons set out above, the Commission does not approve SSi’s statement of work as currently written.
The project that the Commission approved in Telecom Decision 2023-418 is an important step in improving telecommunications services in Nunavut. For this reason, the Commission will continue to work with SSi to develop a new statement of work that aligns more closely with SSi’s original application and will deliver universal service objective-level speeds to the residents of Nunavut by the end of 2025.
The Commission therefore directs SSi to do the following if it wishes to continue the project with funding from the Broadband Fund:

(a) confirm in writing, by 20 January 2025, its intent to proceed with the project and to submit a new statement of work package to the Commission; and

(b) file for Commission approval, by 14 February 2025, a completed statement of work package in the format identified by the Commission, addressing the concerns outlined in paragraph 3 above and detailed in the confidential staff letter.
The Commission remains optimistic and is committed to helping improve connectivity in Nunavut. Commission staff will continue to work with SSi to finalize a statement of work that better aligns with the approved project.

Secretary General