WE ARE the premier provider of remote-area broadband solutions. We design, build and operate telecommunications networks across Canada’s North and around the world.
VISION &
VALUES
Qimirluk Vision
To deliver high quality and affordable telecommunications access to Canada’s remote and underserved communities.
Qimirluk Values
- The Qimirluk vision can only be realized through respect for and collaboration with the communities we serve;
- The Qimirluk solution must benefit each community served with new employment and skills training opportunities, contributing to social and economic development;
- The Qimirluk culture is one of transparency, honesty and inclusion in all of our dealings;
- The Qimirluk network will be innovative and technology-current, ensuring that remote northern communities receive the best possible service.
ABOUT 
Headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and with a satellite teleport and network operations centre in Ottawa, SSi Canada designs, builds and operates telecommunications networks across Canada’s North and around the world. With over 25 years experience in remote area connectivity, SSi understands first-hand the challenges faced in providing effective and affordable service to under-served and outlying communities, and in providing a competitive alternative to the incumbent operator in small and remote markets.
SSi deploys advanced satellite and local broadband wireless facilities that deliver services throughout Nunavut under the “QINIQ” brand, and in numerous communities of the Northwest Territories, an area spanning over three million square kilometers.
In 2016-2017, SSi upgraded its northern network with state-of-the-art 4G-LTE technology, allowing new services such as mobile voice and data with global roaming services, more robust residential Internet, telemetry applications like smart metering and remote access security systems, and hi-definition videoconferencing.
For more information visit: SSi Canada.
With over 25 years experience, SSi understands first-hand the challenges faced in providing effective and affordable service to under-served and outlying communities.
HISTORY
IN THE NORTH
SSi Canada is a family-owned company with northern roots dating back over 50 years. In the early 1960’s, the Philipp family of Fort Providence, NT, established a small motel, coffee shop, and store known as the Snowshoe Inn. Over the years, the motel was expanded and the business grew to include a restaurant, lounge, commercial rental space, industrial equipment services and bulk fuel sales, becoming the largest employer in the community.
In 1990, Jeff Philipp followed his passion for computers and started SSi Canada with his wife Stefanie. Computer sales eventually led to the delivery of Internet services, first in Yellowknife and soon after
to remote communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and elsewhere around the globe.
SSi was the first company to launch broadband service in all 25 Nunavut communities, doing so in 2005 under the “QINIQ” brand name, offering the same service level and pricing to Nunavummiut across the Territory. Since then, the positive impacts of broadband for consumers, organizations and small business have been clearly evident across the North.
For more information, visit: Our Northern Roots
SSi was the first company to launch broadband service in all 25 Nunavut communities.
EMBRACING
CHALLENGES
A Harsh Environment
At home in Canada’s Arctic, SSi operates in some of the most isolated and rugged locations on the planet. In winter, temperatures often exceed -40 degrees Celsius, with unpredictable winds and blizzard conditions. In Nunavut, there is no road access, meaning that travel to most communities is limited to small aircraft with restricted freight requirements. Large equipment is transported by ship, but only for a few months each year depending on sea ice conditions.
Building the QINIQ Network
Previous to 2005, people in only a few of Nunavut’s 25 communities were able to surf the Internet, but that meant using snail-slow – and incredibly expensive – dial-up connections. Sending a single digital photo could take hours and service was often unreliable.
SSi responded to a request for proposal by the Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation for a new satellite network that would provide affordable, reliable high-speed Internet to all 25 communities. It had never been done. SSi accepted the challenge, presenting an innovative design and Canadian technology firsts for both satellite backbone and the wireless last-mile. Core to success of the plan was training local “community service providers” (CSPs) as on-site QINIQ representatives.
SSi has continuously upgraded the QINIQ network, most recently to the latest 4G-LTE technology.
QINIQ was successfully launched in 2005 and since then, SSi has continuously upgraded the QINIQ network, most recently to the latest 4G-LTE technology, enabling significantly improved last-mile connectivity, including mobile voice and data.
For more information, visit: Qiniq
Fighting for Fair Competition
SSi has a solid track record of championing proper connectivity and competition for the North. For years, we have been advocating policies and approaches before governments and regulators to deliver higher quality connectivity, lower costs and a fairer, more competitive telecoms market.
For more information, visit: Fair competition
For years we’ve been fighting for a fair marketplace and lower costs to benefit all consumers.
