Yellowknife (Oct 06/03) - Every community in the territory will have its own Internet Service Provider (ISP) by the end of 2004, said Anne Kennedy, director of public affairs with NorthwesTel.

NorthwesTel spent years petitioning the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission to fund Internet services to all Northern communities.

The company was successful when the CRTC gave them a $4 million grant in June.

"Now we can offer local dial-up services in all those communities without the service," said Kennedy, adding plans are already underway to install the appropriate equipment.

Inuvik and Fort McPherson are the only Mackenzie Delta communities at this time with an ISP number through NorthwesTel.