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Native Community Turns To Globalstar To Solve Remote Communications Issues:
The Kativik Regional Government in the Nunavik Region of Northern
Quebec, has purchased more than 80 Globalstar satellite handsets from
Globalstar Canada. As a result, the Kativik Regional Government has
been able to provide their communities with a reliable, consistent
wireless communication service for the first time.
"We have tried other satellite and communications systems and the
Globalstar satellite service far exceeds them all," said Gordon Cobain,
Head of Administration, Kativik Regional Government. "Previous wireless
communication systems provided poor voice quality and proved to be
unreliable. We were so impressed with the Globalstar service, that we
have distributed two handsets to each of the fourteen remote
communities in the Nunavik Region."
The primary function of the satellite handsets is to provide a reliable
means of communication to communities that have traditionally been
limited to VHF radio use. Each of the communities in the Nunavik Region
designated one handset to their community council and one to the local
branch of the Canadian Rangers, who are responsible for the law
enforcement within these communities.
The Globalstar satellite phone has already proven its value in an emergency situation.
"It proved to be an important tool when a forest fire required the
evacuation of more than 200 residents from one of our communities,"
said Cobain. "Using the Globalstar handset, we were able to coordinate
the airlift of evacuees and avert a potential tragedy."
There are several applications for the satellite handset in the
northern regions of Canada. For example, many of the people in the
Nunavik Region who rely upon subsistence hunting and fishing, now bring
a satellite handset with them when embarking on week or even month long
hunting trips.
"Our hunters can be away from their families for extended periods, and
the Globalstar service provides them with a means to keep in touch."
said Cobain. "The Kativik Regional Government hunter support program
has assisted in the purchase of Globalstar handsets in order to provide
the hunters with a subsidized handset so that they can keep in touch
with their families and call for assistance in case of an emergency."
Several aboriginal Canadian communities across the country have bought
Globalstar handsets, because they have also found the satellite system
to be an indispensable tool for people living and working in the
Canadian North. In fact, according to the Kativik regional Government,
although they have already purchased more than 80 Globalstar handsets,
there is a good chance that they will be back for more.
Nunavik covers approximately one third of the entire province of
Quebec. Within this immense northern territory lies 14 Inuit
communities along the coasts of Ungava Bay and the Hudson Strait and
Hudson Bay, which is governed by the Kativik Regional Government. Its
inhabitants are the Inuit, the Naskapi and the Cree. There are no roads
linking the communities together or any roads linking Nunavik to the
south. Long distances are traveled by air, or by ship in the summer
months, while locally the most popular form of transportation is the
snowmobile in winter and all-terrain vehicles in summer.
Groupe CLR is the Globalstar Canada dealer that was awarded the handset
contract by the Kativik Regional Government. Groupe CLR has been
offering mobile and wireless communication in Quebec since 1979. They
provide Globalstar, cellular, and two-way radio, including the largest
land-mobile radio system, in the province. They have offices in
Trois-Rivieres, La Tuque and Grand-Mere.
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