OTTAWA — Satellite operator Telesat and ENCQOR 5G, a Canada-Quebec-Ontario initiative focused on 5G technology research and innovation, announced today a new strategic partnership to accelerate the delivery of next-generation 5G networks across Canada.
“In cooperation with the ENCQOR 5G program, Telesat will conduct demonstrations, trials and pilots that will advance 5G connectivity, particularly to industries operating in rural areas,” reads a Telesat press release.
“This includes the utilization of the ENCQOR testbed, satellite assets, as well as national and international 5G infrastructures. The partnership will also allow both Telesat and ENCQOR 5G to collaborate with other industries, academia, and organizations across Canada and around the world,” the release says.
ENCQOR 5G (which stands for Evolution of Networked Services through a Corridor in Quebec and Ontario for Research and Innovation) is a public-private partnership funded by the governments of Canada, Quebec and Ontario as well as anchor partners and digital technology leaders Ericsson, Ciena Canada, Thales Canada, IBM Canada and CGI. The program is coordinated by Innovation ENCQOR, and delivered in Ontario by the Ontario Centre of Innovation and in Quebec by Innovation ENCQOR, Prompt and ADRIQ.
Established in 2017, ENCQOR 5G “brings together a wide network of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industry, government, researchers, and academia to collaborate on the creation and commercialization of new and disruptive products, processes and services over a five-year span and beyond,” the release says.
Telecom service providers who have joined the ENCQOR 5G initiative include Bell, Cogeco, Ecotel (Ambra Solutions), Rogers, Telus and Videotron, as well as Iristel.
“As a leader in satellite communications and through our close collaboration with the Canadian, Quebec and Ontario governments, we felt a partnership with ENCQOR 5G was a natural next step in fusing the satellite industry with mobile networks to accelerate the future of 5G technology,” said Stephen Hampton, manager of public policy at Telesat, in the press release.
“We firmly believe our combined efforts will not only benefit the Canadian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital technologies industries, but that the development of these services will also minimize the current connectivity divide for industrial verticals.
“We think this will have a marked impact on the citizens of Canada and will set the stage to export technologies and 5G networks to the global market — especially once we seamlessly integrate our highly advanced Telesat Lightspeed LEO satellite network into these 5G networks,” Hampton said.
“Enabling disruptive innovations requires strong collaboration, discussion, and transparency between all relevant parties — from industry leaders to government entities, research institutions, academia, telecom service providers, and satellite providers. This is exactly in line with ENCQOR 5G’s mission,” said Pierre Boucher, general manager of ENCQOR 5G.
“Having a world leading company like Telesat on board will prove momentous in expanding the geographical reach of 5G networks, and this agreement will create a strong pathway for productive collaboration between Telesat and our organization.”
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