DORVAL, QC – Canada’s space and satellite communications industry received a boost Wednesday after the federal government announced a $11.5 million repayable investment from the Strategic Innovation Fund to help improve access to broadband in rural and remote areas.
David Lametti, Parliamentary Secretary to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains (pictured), said that Advantech Satellite Networks will use the funds to develop an advanced satellite broadband network that will improve the performance of satellite communication systems. The total value of the project is $29 million.
According to the announcement, the project will support the development of next-generation terminals and hubs for faster and higher-capacity broadband networks that allow data to be transmitted more efficiently across networks, leading to significantly lower network costs. These innovations could also lead to other broadband solutions that will help bring greater Internet access and more reliable service to communities in rural areas of Canada. As the technology can be adapted to any satellite, the project will position Advantech to capture a share of a growing global market.
The funding will also help create or maintain over 95 jobs in Quebec plus bring new high-tech skills to the Montreal region, thanks to Advantech’s partnership with local post-secondary institutions like Concordia University and Dawson College.
“We are extremely honoured and excited that our High Throughput Satellite System [HTSS] project was awarded this contribution from Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund”, said Advantech president and CEO David Gelerman, in the news release. “HTSS is an important piece of the overall telecommunications infrastructure and plays a major role in producing visible and concrete outcomes for areas without access to high-speed Internet. The technology being developed will showcase Canadian satellite companies’ innovations that will help them provide affordable connectivity for the benefit of all Canadians, eliminating the digital divide for hard-to-reach regions, including the Arctic. It will also enhance Canadian satellite technology exports worldwide.”
“Advantech’s satellite project will help strengthen our country’s leadership in space satellite technology while improving Canadians’ access to broadband Internet in all parts of the country”, added Lametti. “This project is an excellent example of home-grown ideas that help Canadians fully participate in the digital economy.”
Photo from Wednesday’s annoucement via David Lametti’s Twitter account
