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Dempster Fibre Project


Dempster Fibre Project

Location: Dawson City, Yukon to Inuvik, NWT

Provincial/Territorial/Federal/Municipal: Government of Yukon

Status: In Operation

Value of Partnership: N/A (No private finance component)

Type of P3: DBOM

Substantial Completion: September 2024

Handback: 2044

The 778-kilometre fibre optic communication line, which runs along the Dempster Highway, connects Dawson City, Yukon to the existing Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. The fibre line crosses the traditional territories of eight First Nations and Indigenous groups in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

In September 2024, construction was completed ahead of schedule and the project became part of the continuous 4,000-kilometre long Canada North Fibre Loop, which is designed to ensure internet and cellular services remain operational in the event of a disruption such as those caused by natural disasters or power outages. Previously, northern communities depended on a single fibre optic line. When that line went down, the region was largely cut off from the digital world.

The $79-million Dempster Fibre line, constructed by ROHL Global Networks, became operational on November 26, 2024. It services 70 different communities in the North and is owned by the Government of Yukon. Northwestel is leasing and operating the line for a period of 20 years.

Various installation methods were used for the Dempster Fibre Line project, each tailored to specific terrain encountered along the line’s route.

  • 89 per cent was embedded below the ground surface.
  • seven per cent was installed using horizontal directional drilling primarily for traversing wetlands and rivers.
  • Less than two per cent was mounted on existing power poles, mostly in and around communities.
  • Just over one per cent was affixed to new poles in areas where environmental conditions prevented the installation of horizontal directional drilling underground.

Partners:

Public: Government of Yukon

Private Sector: ROHL Global Networks and Northwestel