Fiber Optic Network – First Nations Communities in Northern Quebec

For the past 30 years, northern Quebec has benefited from strong, sustained growth. Services like health, education, trade, culture, public safety, and Internet have been in greater demand as populations grow. To meet these ever-increasing needs, the Cree Nation Government took the initiative to build a new regional broadband network adapted to northern Quebec’s particular challenges.

The Eeyou Communications Network (ECN) was built with a fiber backbone infrastructure that interconnects all northern communities to the incumbent service providers located in Amos. It brings reliable high speed voice and data connection to local inhabitants, enterprises, and government services and connects to northern Quebec regions through lateral branches. It also connects to the Eeyou Istchee community located at the Baie James.

Planned and designed to fit the northern Quebec environment, the ECN was built to survive heavy weather conditions and difficult terrain conditions, such as crossing rivers, streams, and swamps. This network also has the unique characteristic to run over a long distance without existing infrastructure.

To guarantee high reliability in those conditions, the design included protecting the lines from forest fires and vandalism. Also, bridge crossings were designed with metal channels—attached to the bridge structure—to reduce fiber exposure and potential fiber cut.

With our design expertise developed for northern conditions, we’re helping the remote communities of the province expand their services and better support their growing populations.