Arctic Telecommunications

The institute's telecommunications efforts are designed to provide a forum for cooperative efforts to understand and bridge the digital divide in the Arctic by sharing of information and technology transfer through join demonstrations projects.  The aim is to provide telephone service and internet access to communities where these services are lacking or deficient.

Programs

The Institute of the North served as the secretariat for the Arctic Information and Communications Technologies Assessment (AICTA)  which was developed by the Arctic Council and provided baseline information and assisted the Arctic Council, member states, Permanent Participants and Observers in identifying possible cooperative activities and projects in relation to ICT.

The Alaska Statewide Telecommunications Workshop, was co-sponsored by the University of Alaska and the Institute of the North, and brought together the state’s leading communications providers and a cross section of Alaska consumers to share information on telecommunications and infrastructure needs, as well as discuss how best to facilitate improved connectivity, especially in remote Alaska.

At the request of the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials, the Institute of the North hosted an Information and Communications Technologies Scoping Workshop, which focused on the policy frameworks in various Arctic states and Arctic ICT issues and activities in the context of the Arctic Council.