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INUVIK
Inuvik has caught up with the rest of Canada when it comes to cellphone service with a 4G network now providing the community with faster downloading.

Brian Richards, left, Bernie MacNeil and Julie Anonnevo of Arctic Digital display the cellphone selection available now since Inuvik has a 4G network. The upgraded network allows cellphones to download data. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

In mid-October, Bell Canada upgraded the cellphone service in Inuvik from a second-generation network that downloading at speeds of one megabyte per second to a fourth generation network that has download speeds of up to 21 megabyte per second. This means cellphone users in the community can use the newest products on the market.

"It's been in place for two weeks and we're selling about five to 10 (phones) per day and we've been open for 10 business days," said Bernie MacNeil, owner of Arctic Digital, the only Bell service provider in Inuvik. "That's three or four times what we usually do."

Not only Inuvik residents will benefit from the upgrade, but visitors won't have to worry about their cellphones not working once they arrive. During the Inuvik Petroleum Show in June, owners of iPhones had moments of stress as their connection to the outside world and colleagues in Inuvik were cut off.

"If we want to be a conference destination, we have to have the modern technology," said Inuvik Mayor Denny Rodgers. "It'll be amazing to have at the event."

Having the larger download speeds means people can use their phones to check e-mail, Facebook, watch YouTube videos and download anything they want to their phones.

Before this upgrade, Inuvik worked on a Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, which was the equivalent of a 2G network, which offered only voice and text through cellphones. When Bell continued to upgrade 3G and 4G networks across Canada, it only went as far north as Yellowknife.

The problem for Inuvik came when cellphone manufacturers stopped making CDMA phones, since the majority of Canada had moved on to 3G and 4G networks.

"We only had a selection of two phones," MacNeil said. "Now we carry about 14 different phones and if someone really wanted one phone we could order it."

Arctic Digital has sold out of the iPhone 4 and has a waiting list of 12 people for the iPhone 4S – the latest Apple phones. The Samsung Galaxy S2 has sold well, too, as residents hurry to use the quicker network.

Inuvik-based Ice Wireless uses 2G technology, but plans to modernize.

"We don't have the timing down yet, but we have to keep up with things," said Tom Zubko, president of Ice Wireless. "At the current time we don't have any data, but we're looking to upgrade."

Tuktoyaktuk will eventually receive a cellphone upgrade, too, but currently works on a 2G network.

The 4G service almost reaches to Aklavik and possibly as far as Gwich'in Territorial Park.

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