Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (May 31/02) - Fort Simpson Internet users may soon be able to go wireless, maybe as early as next week.

For more than two years now, the president of local cable and Internet service provider H.R. Thomson Consultants has been working on a plan to bring the new service.

Ivan Simons said laptop users will soon be able to access the Internet without cable and phone lines for relatively comparable costs.

"Wireless is quite cheap," said Simons.

"A number of things happened this year in the industry, micro-technology has grown by leaps and bounds."

Dial-up fees from H.R. Thomson start at $30 a month, and $1 an hour for additional time. Cable service costs $60 per month, on top of a $45 basic package fee.

Simons said his company would like to charge between $60 and $100 per month.

"But you can't hold me to it," cautioned Simons.

"We're just a small company. We don't get outside help. If we can do it, we'll do it."

Nonetheless, Simons said there are advantages to using wireless Internet service.

One, the service can be installed using any wireless modem purchased by the customer. Second, visitors to Fort Simpson will be able to access the Internet from their own laptops, making it attractive to do business in the community.

"They just have to pop out their laptops, and away they go," said Simons.

Simons said he is working with the village to provide wireless capabilities within the recreation centre for visiting business and government delegates.

The service will only be provided within the island boundaries during phase one of the project, but Simons hopes to extend as far as the airport in the near future.