Construction of the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (MVFL) has been completed according to an announcement made by the territorial government Tuesday.
The 1,154 km high-speed telecommunications system was completed on March 16, when the last two splice locations were installed according to a press release.
It runs from McGill Lake, approximately 80 km south of Fort Simpson, to Inuvik.
The fiber optic link is meant to help modernize the economy and support economic growth.
“The completion of the MVFL hits a major milestone to not only improve, but to provide state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure to remote communities in the Mackenzie Valley region,” said finance minister Robert C. McLeod in a press release.
“The MVFL will significantly reduce the digital gap for residents and businesses of the Mackenzie Valley, improving the efficient delivery of government programs and services, and promoting the expansion of Inuvik as a world-class satellite ground station.”
The project’s next phase will be to test the line’s performance and functionality before it is commissioned for service.
Construction on the line began two years ago. The communications line faced challenges during construction, delaying its original expected completion for the summer of 2016.
The GNWT aims to have the line fully operational by June 1.
