Northwestel Internet Plans
From $60/mo · DSL, Satellite, Fixed Wireless
Northwestel Internet Plans
Internet for Canada's North — NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut
Plans from
$60/mo
Max Speed
100 Mbps
Technology
DSL, Satellite, Fixed Wireless
Provinces
NT, YT, NU
Contract
Month-to-month available
Northwestel Internet Plans
Internet 5
$60/mo
- 5 Mbps download
- 1 Mbps upload
- Wi-Fi modem
No contract required
Internet 25
$110/mo
- 25 Mbps download
- 5 Mbps upload
- Wi-Fi modem
- No data cap
No contract required
Internet 100
$200/mo
- 100 Mbps download
- 20 Mbps upload
- Wi-Fi 6 modem
- Where available
No contract required
Our Northwestel Review
Northwestel is the monopoly telecommunications provider for Canada's Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut — serving communities where no other ISP has any presence. At $110/mo for 25 Mbps and $200/mo for 100 Mbps, prices are substantially higher than southern Canada, but they reflect the genuine cost of building and maintaining infrastructure in remote northern conditions: microwave backhaul, satellite links, and extreme weather. The higher prices are not a sign of price gouging — they are a direct consequence of real infrastructure costs that no competitor has chosen to absorb. For the estimated 100,000+ Canadians living in these territories, Northwestel is not an option among many; it is the only option. CRTC filings confirm it as the dominant reported ISP across all NWT, YT, and NU FSAs.
Pros
- ✓Only provider in many northern communities
- ✓Covers all three territories
- ✓Fixed wireless in select communities
- ✓Local northern support teams
Cons
- ✗Northern territories only
- ✗Higher prices due to remote infrastructure costs
- ✗Speeds limited compared to southern Canada
- ✗Satellite latency in remote communities
Northwestel — Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Northwestel internet so expensive?
Northwestel serves Canada's three northern territories — Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut — where building and maintaining telecommunications infrastructure requires microwave backhaul towers, satellite links, and engineering designed for extreme cold and remote conditions. Population density across these territories is extremely low, meaning the infrastructure cost is spread across far fewer customers than in southern Canada. The CRTC regulates Northwestel's pricing as a monopoly carrier, but the cost floor is genuinely higher than anywhere else in Canada.
Is there any alternative to Northwestel in the North?
In most northern communities, Northwestel is the only wired internet option. Starlink satellite internet is now available across Canada including NWT, YT, and NU, and at $120/mo for unlimited data with 40–100 ms latency, it can be a practical alternative in communities where Northwestel's speeds are limited to 25 Mbps or below. For residents in Whitehorse or Yellowknife, Northwestel's 100 Mbps plan is available and preferable to satellite for latency-sensitive uses like video conferencing.
Does Northwestel offer fibre internet?
Northwestel has been expanding fibre access in its main service centers — Whitehorse (YT) and Yellowknife (NT) — but most communities outside these hubs rely on fixed wireless, DSL, or satellite connectivity. Nunavut communities are primarily served via satellite given the lack of road and fibre corridor access. The 100 Mbps plan is only available where fibre or advanced fixed wireless has been deployed.
Does Northwestel have data caps?
Northwestel's current plans include unlimited data at the 25 Mbps and 100 Mbps tiers, though legacy plans with data caps may still be active for some customers. Check the specific plan details on northwestel.ca, as plan terms have changed over recent years as the CRTC has pushed for improved northern broadband access.
Can I use Northwestel for working from home?
The 100 Mbps plan in Whitehorse and Yellowknife is capable of supporting remote work including video conferencing, VPN, and cloud services. The 25 Mbps plan is functional for most WFH tasks but may feel limiting on days with high household usage. In communities where only 5–10 Mbps service is available, video calls work but high-definition streaming or large file uploads may be slow. Starlink is worth comparing if your Northwestel plan is below 25 Mbps.