The chief of a First Nations community in Antigonish Co. says their free Wi-Fi project is almost finished.
P.J. Prosper, the chief of the Paq’tnkek First Nations, says construction on the project wrapped up when they finished installing two towers in the summer.
He says there were multiple phases to the project, including planning and building, but now they’re left with installing basic equipment in the few homes that still don’t have access to free Wi-Fi.
Prosper tells The Hawk each home has dedicated bandwidth.
“We got a license through the CRTC to be a non-dominant service provider,” he says. “(That) allows us to purchase broadband wholesale.”
Prosper says Internet is a necessity these days, and he’s very happy to see the plan, which has been in the works for more than two years, come together for members of the community.
He says he hopes the project will be done by the end of the fall.
“I would anticipate that most of the community now, most of the households, have Internet provided through the band,” he says. “With this technology, hopefully within the next month or so, we can finish off the remaining houses.”
Prosper says the Internet is the highest speed they could provide for their residents.