CBJ — Telecom company Northwestel will begin providing a faster satellite-based internet service for homes throughout Nunavut, starting with the territorial capital of Iqaluit on Oct. 1.

Upgraded broadband service to the territory’s 24 other communities will become available over the coming months.

The service upgrade is enabled by the launch of Telesat’s new Telstar 19 Vantage satellite this summer aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Northwestel’s upgrade received $49 million from a federal government program for improving internet access in rural and remote parts of Canada.

The new maximum speed of 15 megabits per second, with 100 gigabytes of monthly usage included, will cost $129 per month.

@CanBizJournal