There has been a setback to improving and expanding high-speed connectivity and cell service in northern Labrador.

The Nunatsiavut Government says Bell Canada has formally withdrawn from the Labrador North Wireless Broadband Project.

Bell told Nunatsiavut that, over the past four years, project costs have more than tripled, bringing the estimated completion cost to $110-million. Compounding matters is that subscribers to Bell services have declined by almost 70 per cent.

President Johannes Lampe says the company’s withdrawal is devastating to Labrador Inuit communities.

Indigenous governments are encouraging other providers to move in and expand broadband and telecommunications services.