YELLOWKNIFE – SSi Micro is helping to share the Canada C3 Expedition with the world after equipping the vessel with satellite broadband connectivity throughout its 150-day, 23,000 km sailing journey from Toronto to Victoria via the Northwest Passage to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.
SSi said that the unprecedented communications requirements of the Canada C3 Project, with daily uploads of high data content such as video and photos, and to allow 60 passengers and crew to engage in regular Internet and social media activity, called for an innovative solution. Using a 2.4 metre diameter C-band antenna equipped with auto-tracking electronics and gyro-stabilizing mechanics, SSi can lock the ship onto a C-band satellite that covers all of Canada, and deliver speeds up to 10 megabits per second – almost 80 times better than the standard marine connection for ships in this northern region. Most sea-faring vessels in the North Atlantic, North Pacific and Arctic waters are limited to intermittent Ku-band satellite coverage with transmission speed rarely exceeding 128 kilobits per second.
“SSi is thrilled to be involved with Canada C3. Delivering broadband to a moving platform, at really high latitudes like the Northwest Passage, comes with significant challenges. Fortunately, we have always had a healthy disrespect for the impossible, and were immediately intrigued by the opportunity to make telecom history,” said SSi Micro founder and CEO of Jeff Philipp, in the news release. “SSi is a natural partner for this incredible project celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary – we’re Canadian, we’re northern, and we have been breaking the communications mould for over 25 years.”
The 220-foot Canada C3 vessel, a former Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, is an unprecedented expedition celebrating the environment, working towards reconciliation, engaging youth, sharing the stories of diverse communities across the country and connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Participants on board are a diverse group of remarkable Canadians, including scientists, artists, Indigenous Elders, historians, community leaders, youth, journalists and educators.
