Northern communications need more 'horsepower': general
Last Updated: Thursday, August 27, 2009 | 5:21 PM CT
CBC News
There is a need to build up communications infrastructure in Canada's North, says the head of the Canadian Forces' northern operations.
Brig. Gen. David Millar of Joint Task Force North said communications systems are thin in the region, especially for cellphones, posing a challenge to everyone.
Millar, who is in charge of Operation Nanook — an Arctic sovereignty and emergency exercise currently underway in the Iqaluit area — said military personnel arriving in the city experienced cellphone problems because of a spike in usage.
Millar said the Canadian Forces plans to make it a priority to improve the North's communications system.
"We're certainly working with … all the territories and the local service provider, Northwestel, to try and increase the capacity of the system, both in a steady state but also in a surge," Millar said Wednesday.
"In other words, when we do have emergency operations — not just because the military is here, but your own emergency measures capability — [we] need additional horsepower for communications."
Upwards of 700 military and government personnel have been involved in Operation Nanook since it began Aug. 6. The month-long exercise ends on Aug. 28.
