On October 1, 2026, Telecom Order CRTC 2026-256 approved Northwestel Tariff Notice 1281, introducing a new FTTP Business Internet Gigabit Unlimited package. The listed effective date is October 1. The order establishes approval of the tariff application; it does not announce universal gigabit coverage across the North.
The application record adds an important distinction
In a July 20 staff letter, the CRTC described the proposed package as using XGS-PON technology. The letter distinguished it from an earlier GPON business package and asked Northwestel for supporting cost information. That record explains why this is a particular tariff application, rather than simply the first appearance of the word gigabit in the region.
The final order also approves a separate maintenance service for customer-owned fibre. Those two items should not be merged into a single retail internet offer. The order says there were no interventions and requires revised tariff pages within ten calendar days. It does not supply a full customer-facing price and eligibility table.
Related sources: CRTC Order 2026-256 ↗ · CRTC staff letter: TN 1281 ↗
What the technology name can tell a buyer
FTTP identifies a fibre connection to premises. XGS-PON identifies the network technology described in the application; it is not, by itself, the speed promise for every purchased plan. A business should ask for the contracted download and upload rates, equipment requirements and any service commitments in writing.
The distinction matters for offices that send large files or maintain off-site backups. A download headline alone cannot explain how an upload-heavy workflow will behave. Ask what is guaranteed, what is a best-effort service and how support handles an interruption. These are purchasing questions, not benefits established by the approval order.
Check the address and the complete quote
Give the provider the exact service address and ask whether the new package can be ordered there, on what installation timeline and with which equipment. Request the total recurring charge, one-time costs, term, cancellation conditions and any promotional expiry. Do not copy a residential price into a business comparison.
Compare the package with your existing connection using the tasks your office performs. Record transfer sizes, concurrent users and the consequences of downtime. A faster headline can be useful, but a plan change should solve a defined constraint rather than merely replace a smaller number with a larger one.
Approval and measured performance are different evidence
A regulatory approval does not measure the speed at an individual desk. Wi-Fi, a device, a local switch or the remote server can limit a test. Establish a repeatable wired baseline where possible and keep dated results for a support conversation. AI Speed’s test is one endpoint measurement; it is not a certification of Northwestel’s network or a business service-level guarantee.
This article will need an update if current tariff pages or ordering information materially change the buyer’s options. Until then, the confirmed event is the October 1 approval, with availability and final terms to verify directly.
Sources and editorial method
We use the linked original statements and reports to distinguish documented facts from our analysis. Company announcements describe their authors’ plans and claims; they are not independent verification of future outcomes. This article is dated and will be revised if material evidence changes. Read our editorial standards and corrections process.
- CRTC Order 2026-256 ↗ — October 1 approval, effective dates and revised tariff requirement.
- CRTC staff letter: TN 1281 ↗ — July 20 application context, XGS-PON distinction and cost-information request.