Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (July 01/02) - Work is well underway to connect Fort Smith to the world through a fibre optic cable, despite the current strike at NorthwesTel.

Anne Kennedy Grainger, the public relations director with the company, says the $4-million project will be completed before the first frost this fall.

Kennedy Grainger also says the laying of the cable will not be affected by the current labour dispute, since the work is being done by a contractor.

"This work was planned and scheduled before the strike occurred," she says.

However, in the fall, the inside work - actually connecting the cable to the microwave system - will be done by NorthwesTel employees, she says. "It's far too early to say if it's going to be affected by the strike."

The fibre optic cable will significantly improve telephone service in Fort Smith, which is currently served by satellite for long-distance calls. It will also provide more capacity for all data services, including the Internet.

The cable is being installed over 307 kilometres between Fort Smith, Hay River and Enterprise, where it will connect with NorthwesTel's main microwave radio system.

NorthwesTel provides long-distance service to many northern communities via microwave radio towers. But for Fort Smith, microwave towers were not permitted through Wood Buffalo National Park because of potential risks to the endangered whooping cranes.

Some preparatory construction work was done last February while the ground was frozen. Construction work began again on May 13.

The project includes the installation of conduits under the Highway 5 and through wetlands.