introduced to replace 403 and 819, although the British Columbia locations, by now serviced by 250, remained on 250. The inauguration of 867 signaled a truly trans-northern communications network that was finally capable of routing calls across the north without having to route through the territories of southern telephone companies. A Service Improvement Plan (SIP), similar to ones implemented by other Canadian telephone companies, extended basic levels of service to more of the north during the four years starting in 2001. In August 2009, Northwestel completed the last leg of fibre from Whitehorse to the south. Until this time, a long section between Fort Nelson, BC, and Mould Creek (near Liard Hot Springs), telecommunications passing through the area were carried over microwave radio. The completion of the fibre link in this area also will allow Northwestel to provide internet service to the communities of Muncho Lake, BC and Toad River, BC. Since the completion of fibre fully to Whitehorse, internet package speeds and transfer caps in Whitehorse have both been increased significantly. Unlike southern phone companies, Northwestel occasionally must decommission exchanges and facilities in previously active communities that are ceasing to exist. In several cases, a large investment in wiring distribution and exchange infrastructure must be abandoned or removed, and may become surplus (no longer producing revenue to cover its acquisition and installation cost), not being required elsewhere. Past communities served by Northwestel that have vanished include: Clinton Creek, Yukon (1978) Port Radium, Northwest Territories (1982) Pine Point, Northwest Territories (1988) Tungsten, Northwest Territories (1990) Bearskin Lake, BC (2004) Little Cornwallis Island, Nunavut (2005) Nanisivik, Nunavut, in early 2007, following a lengthy proceeding before the CRTC with opposition from contract workers at the mine site; Cassiar, British Columbia, is a shadow of its former self and its remaining customers have been moved, by 2009, to the Good Hope Lake exchange (which once was a locality of Cassiar). Other communities have been added and then deleted in a short space of years: McDame Lake, BC; Ketza River, Yukon. Elsa survives as a rate centre only because it was eclipsed by relatively stable Keno, which is served by the same exchange. Subsidiary operations Northwestel Cable is a wholly owned subsidiary of Northwestel. Originally approved by the CRTC to provide cable television in numerous communities across the north, the timing was poor as DTH satellite services became available; Northwestel Cable was unable to