Infrastructure gaps
Distance and geography can make reliable service difficult to deliver. Satellite and community-led networks may offer practical options where other infrastructure is limited.
Digital access · Community research
Bridging the digital divide.
More possibilities for remote and northern Canadian communities.
Access to learning, information and public services should not depend on where you live. Explore a community-centred model that brings practical access, digital literacy and cybersafety together.
Shaped by communities.Practical access. Relevant learning. Lasting confidence.
Three connected priorities
Practical access
Digital literacy
Cybersafety
01 / Understanding the gap
When access is unequal, opportunity is too.
Education, healthcare, work and public services increasingly depend on being online. The COVID-19 pandemic made these connections especially important, including for students learning from home.
For communities facing unreliable service or high costs, digital exclusion can deepen existing inequalities. The research highlights three barriers: infrastructure, affordability and reaching the people most affected.
A snapshot of the access gap
2021 research baseline90.9%
Households
across Canada
59.5%
Households in rural
and remote areas
42.9%
Households on
First Nations reserves
Households with access to at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload in 2021. These historical figures describe service availability, not subscriptions or current coverage. Source: Auditor General of Canada, 2023.
02 / A practical model
One small box.
A shared place to learn.
Internet-in-a-Box makes a collection of learning resources available over a local Wi-Fi network, even when an internet connection is unavailable.[2]
The proposed pilot would explore how this model could support schools, community centres and other shared spaces, with content and training shaped around local priorities.
- Resources close at handLocally stored materials for nearby phones, tablets and laptops.
- Learning that fits the communityRelevant content, practical guidance and local participation.
- Safety built into the learningDigital literacy and cybersafety support alongside access.
How local resource access works
Learning
materials
materials
Educational
media
media
Community
resources
resources
Internet-in-a-Box
A locally stored resource library
Shared over local Wi-Fi
Phones
Tablets
Laptops
An illustrative model. Content, equipment and support would be selected with participating communities.
03 / Community research
Different places.
Shared challenges.
Three communities in the research show why access needs to be understood locally. As networks evolve, affordability, digital skills and safety still deserve attention.
Nunavut01
Iqaluit
The research identifies satellite dependence, slow speeds and outages as barriers to reliable access. New fibre plans make it important to understand what has changed on the ground.
Explore Iqaluit
Infrastructure context
In February 2025, Nunavut announced approval of the Kivalliq-Baffin Connector’s statement of work, a step toward undersea fibre for Iqaluit and three other communities. [3]
Questions for local research
How reliable and affordable is access now? Which learning resources and cybersafety skills would residents find most useful?
City of Iqaluit informationManitoba02
Garden Hill
First Nation
Limited broadband infrastructure and high connectivity costs are central concerns in the research. Regional investment creates a reason to revisit remaining access and learning needs.
Explore Garden Hill
Infrastructure context
A May 2026 federal announcement includes a project to improve connectivity in Garden Hill and neighbouring communities, with estimated completion in March 2029. [4]
Questions for local research
Where do service and affordability gaps remain? How could local resources, digital literacy and cybersafety training support residents as access develops?
Regional project informationManitoba03
Norway House
Cree Nation
Fibre investment is changing the connectivity picture. The research points to an opportunity to understand shared Wi-Fi needs and support confident, safer use of online services.
Explore Norway House
Infrastructure context
Federal funding announced in November 2024 supports fibre and fixed-wireless improvements serving Norway House Cree Nation and nearby communities. [5]
Questions for local research
Who still needs convenient Wi-Fi or device access? What practical online safety training would be most useful as services improve?
Norway House Cree NationThese are research profiles, not confirmed pilot locations or partnerships. Announcements do not establish completion; current service conditions should be confirmed with each community.
04 / Access with confidence
Connection opens doors.
Confidence helps people
step through them.
Improved access should come with practical support. The proposed learning approach addresses six areas that help people navigate digital life with greater confidence.
Fraud & scams
Recognize pressure, false promises and urgent requests. Build the habit of pausing and verifying before sending money or information.
Identity protection
Understand what personal information to protect when creating accounts, banking, communicating and using online services.
Phishing awareness
Learn to question unexpected emails, messages and links, and check requests through a trusted, independent channel.
Phone scams
Identify suspicious callers and social engineering tactics, especially requests for payments, codes or personal details.
Misinformation
Practise checking sources, comparing evidence and recognizing unreliable information before acting on it or sharing it.
Community trust
Build relationships through respectful engagement, cultural awareness and local guidance. Communities help define what useful support looks like.
05 / The proposed pilot
Listen first. Test locally.
Learn together.
A practical three-step approach would explore whether the model is useful, relevant and sustainable in participating communities.
Baseline assessment
Begin with in-person surveys and semi-structured interviews to understand local experiences, needs and priorities.
- Hear from young people and educators.
- Include community service providers.
- Reach residents who may be missed online.
Pilot deployment
Test the system for a limited period in agreed community locations, such as schools and community centres.
- Select resources with local input.
- Pair access with practical learning.
- Provide guidance and support during use.
Follow-up evaluation
Use a post-pilot survey to understand what changed and what should be improved before considering longer-term use.
- Assess changes in digital usage.
- Explore usefulness for learning and services.
- Identify needs for ongoing support.
The goal is a useful community resource, supported by local knowledge, careful evaluation and a realistic plan for ongoing care.
06 / From research to action
Progress takes people
and practical support.
Trusted relationships and sustainable funding would be essential to turn a promising model into a useful local resource.
Potential partners
- Community leaders
- Federal agencies
- Local governments
- Community service providers
- Schools & community centres
- Nonprofits & community organizations
Funding pathways to explore
- Universal Broadband Fund
- Other federal programs
- Indigenous-focused funding
- Early-stage grants
- Early-stage loans
The Universal Broadband Fund was closed to applications when reviewed in October 2026. Other pathways depend on eligibility and available funding; support for this proposed pilot has not been secured.
About this research & sources
This page organizes a supplied research summary and selected public sources. It presents a proposed model and evaluation approach. Community profiles provide research context; they do not imply that a pilot has taken place or that a community has agreed to participate.
Infrastructure announcements are dated context. Local engagement is needed to confirm service availability, affordability, priorities and the suitability of any proposed pilot.
- 01Connectivity in Rural and Remote AreasAuditor General of Canada · 2023 report, using 2021 availability data.
- 02Internet-in-a-BoxOfficial project overview · Offline learning resources shared locally over Wi-Fi.
- 03Nunavut internet connectivity milestone (PDF)Government of Nunavut · February 27, 2025.
- 04Rural and northern Manitoba connectivity investmentGovernment of Canada · May 15, 2026.
- 05High-speed internet investment in Manitoba communitiesInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canada · November 15, 2024.
- 06KnowledgeFlow cybersafety resourcesPractical resources to support digital literacy and safer online participation.
Public source links reviewed October 22, 2026. Historical data and announced projects are labelled with their original dates.