Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 28/05) - Things are only getting better for Internet customers in the Deh Cho.

The available download speeds are getting faster and the number of service providers is growing.

For those who don't have Internet access at home, Aurora College in Deh Cho Hall is a community access point in Fort Simpson. Jacinda Squirrel clicks away in this photo. The computers are available weekday afternoons and evenings Monday through Thursday. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

NorthwesTel recently announced that it has expanded its high-speed, satellite NetKaster coverage to include the Deh Cho region. It is offering four different pricing packages with a maximum download speed of two megabytes per second.

Dennis Nelner, a Fort Simpson businessman, said he also plans to get back into the game. When he has a few more agreements in place he said he will be able to offer the "Lambourghini" of wireless service at 1.5 megabytes per second. He said he has already found southern suppliers, but he couldn't yet say exactly when he would be up and running.

Broadband wireless service is also on the way from another provider, which has SSI Micro working on its technology, but details on that product could not be gleaned by press deadline.

Nelner, whose previous Internet venture went out of business, said he's not deterred by the increasing competition.

He feels his edge will be his ability to offer technical troubleshooting right in the community.

James Sergeant, a Fort Simpson resident who enjoys surfing the 'Net, said he has heard lots of talk of wireless, high-speed Internet becoming available in Fort Simpson over the past year. He's grown a little cynical while waiting.

"I'll believe it when I see it," said Sergeant.

It's a much different world than it was in 1995 when Ivan Simons brought dial-up Internet service to Fort Simpson. With the influx of new players, Simons said he has been making deals and in discussions with some of the new service providers, and he will adapt his business accordingly. However, he said he's glad that newer technologies are finally reaching the NWT.

"I am 100 per cent in favour of a Northern broadband system," Simons said. "What that will give us, as Northern folks, is roaming (Internet). In other words, you can take your laptop if you're going to Jean Marie, and boom, you're connected. You go to Yellowknife, same thing. You can go to any community in the North and you're on the system."

Shane Kwasney has stuck with dial-up so far, but in March he switched to a southern-based provider that offers a low annual fee. Although it's cheaper than satellite, it's slower and it keeps his phone line busy, which is a drawback.

He said he may be tempted to try out one of the new offerings depending on how fast and how costly it's going to be.

Lynn McKay, an owner of the CheckPoint restaurant, gas bar and motel 62 km from Fort Simpson, witnessed a quantum leap in Internet service when she had a satellite dish installed two years ago.

It replaced her old dial-up system. It involved an upfront cost for the satellite and installation, but it was worth it, said McKay.

"It's fast, yes," she said, marvelling at the capabilities for such a remote location. "It's definitely working for us."