Transcript Building A Vision: The Telecommunications Future October 2010 Paul Flaherty, President and CEO Major Contributor to the Northern Economy • Northwestel is a significant contributor to.

Building A Vision: The
Telecommunications Future
October 2010
Paul Flaherty,
President and CEO
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Major Contributor to the
Northern Economy
• Northwestel is a significant contributor to the northern economy
• Direct Employment
– 600 northern private sector jobs, payroll of approximately $45 million
• Northwestel Spin-off Economic Impact
– Capital construction program of $41 million in 2010
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Service enhancements
• Service expansion to new locations
– Northern supplier spend of approximately $32 million in 2009
• Spending with Aboriginal companies - $3 to 4 million per year
• Profits to Aboriginal partner companies - $2 million in 2009
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Nunavut Infrastructure
Investment
Recent Investments in Nunavut
• $10 million invested:
– Internet service improvements in Iqaluit
– Cellular service expansion:
Pond Inlet
Arviat
Cambridge Bay
Kugluktuk
Baker Lake
Rankin Inlet
– Advanced data services to customers in Resolute, Iqaluit, Rankin
Inlet & Kugluktuk
– New satellite hubs
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Telecom Infrastructure is a
Key Enabler for the North
Often we think of Infrastructure as the highways and bridges that
connect us to our business opportunities, family and friends. The
distance that separates us, can be a competitive disadvantage.
Investment in our roads and
bridges is important, and
upgrading that infrastructure is
vital.
The Yukon
Our Home
However, investment in
transportation infrastructure
doesn’t shorten the distance.
The internet places us virtually
anywhere we want to be.
Investment in communications
technology eliminates the sense of
distance and improves
competitiveness of our economy.
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OPPORTUNITY
Improve delivery of essential government programs &
services in northern communities through a world-class,
efficient and cost-effective telecommunications platform
• Improved health care system – better services at lower costs
• Enhanced education opportunities – greater variety available to all
residents
• More efficient/timely justice system
• Greater national security in the north through improved surveillance
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OPPORTUNITY
Help governments to deliver current and future programs
in a cost-effective manner as the fiscal environment
becomes more restrictive
• Opportunity to significantly improve the quality of existing program
delivery models and create new ones
• Successfully meeting these challenges will result in innovation that
will be of interest in other regions of the world
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OPPORTUNITY
Align with the Federal Government strategy of creating a
digital economy and be leaders in Canada
• Rapid development & adoption of digital technologies will change
the way we work, learn, innovate and communicate
• Enhanced infrastructure is an enabler to create a new generation of
employees with skills & tools to help businesses innovate & grow
• Opportunities will exist for consumers to do business with a variety
of suppliers and on their terms (i.e. time, place & method)
• Governments can show the way forward by being early adopters of
the technology to provide programs
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CHALLENGES
Delivering service to communities across the North is an
expensive proposition for governments
• Travel in and out of communities can be costly and challenging in
areas such as health care & justice
• Any form of infrastructure in remote communities is expensive
• Access to skilled resources can be problematic in many disciplines
• Education and training services, which are the primary means to
prepare northerners for the future, strain under growing costs &
increased expectations
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CHALLENGES
Various governments and their departments (Federal, Territorial,
Municipal, Aboriginal) are trying to address their individual needs
without any inter-governmental co-ordination
• Industry & Infrastructure Canada have Rural Broadband Programs
• Health Canada is pursuing programs through Infoway
• INAC has funded programs in ICT
• CanNor provides economic development funds
• Each Territorial Government has their spending
• Public Works Canada invests to support Government groups (i.e.
Fisheries & Oceans, Environment Canada, Nav Canada)
• DND has their communication needs
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CHALLENGES
Result is millions of dollars (> $100M) have been spent
without any overall coordination and benefit of scale
being realized
Individually these programs will deliver less than they
could if done in collaboration
Is this current model sustainable?
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PROPOSAL
Goal is to bring together northern decision and policy makers to learn about
new technological innovations for distant delivery of remote programs and
provide opportunities for cooperative investment in the development and
use of telecommunications infrastructure
Establish an Advisory Committee of stakeholders with inter-governmental, remote distance
programming and telecommunications experience to advise and direct the following
activities:
• Commission research to assess the current technological approach employed by
various government sectors
• Quantify existing investments in developing & implementing telecommunications
solutions for remote program and service delivery
• Identify complimentary initiatives
• Compile research into best practices and identify those individuals who are innovators
in developing new ways of doing business
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PROPOSAL
Overall goal is to bring together northern decision and policy makers to learn
about new technological innovations for the distant delivery of remote
programs and service and to provide opportunities for cooperative investment
in the development and use of telecommunications infrastructure
• Develop a workshop for senior policy and decision makers across the North to raise
awareness about new telecommunication infrastructure opportunities, increased
efficiencies, cost savings and investment opportunities through cooperative action and to
stimulate new thinking as to how programs and services could be better delivered
• Organize a Northern Leaders Conference with the participation of Territorial First Ministers
and senior Federal Ministers, to provide direction for future inter-governmental cooperation
• Recruit key personnel to undertake the work and meet with key decision makers in the
Territorial & Federal Governments as well as Aboriginal organizations, to seek their input
and discuss current challenges
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OUTCOME
Create a vision of how government services and programs,
delivered through a common and enhanced telecommunications
system, can improve.
By working smarter and collaboratively, various governments can
develop a single network system capable of supporting the
delivery of world-class remote programs and services for people
living in Canada’s northern territories with less duplication and
more efficiency.
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In Summary
A common vision and collaborative investments in
telecom and ICT will improve opportunities for all
Northerners.
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