Canadian Minister of Innovation Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains. (Reuters/Rebecca Cook)

Bring Better Internet Access to Remote Areas, Canada Invests US$65M in Satellite Company

Kinanty Nadia Putri
Market & Investment
New Investment
Jul 25, 2019
1474
Canada is investing in satellite company to expand high-speed internet access in rural and remote regions, the federal government said on Wednesday (7/24).

An Ottawa-based technology company, Telesat, received US$65 million funding from the government to join the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Ministry in building technologies using low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellites.

The move is a part of Justin Trudeau administration’s commitment to providing ‘privileged access’ to the satellite network in affordable high-speed internet for all Canadians by 2023, including those in isolated or rural areas.

LEO satellites operate 36 times closer to the earth than traditional telecommunications satellites—which lead to a better and faster broadband service. Telesat chief executive Dan Goldberg said the new technology will be reliable to dramatically improve the connectivity of existing satellites while also being affordable.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains has signed a preliminary agreement with Telesat to narrow connectivity gap in rural communities area by bringing fiber-like internet.

Bains said the technology will also benefit other sectors like the government and military as well.

In addition to LEO development, the Canadian government also plans to encourage more private-sector to invest in rural high-speed internet and to coordinate better among provinces and territories.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-canada-satellite-telecoms/canada-invests-c85-million-in-satellite-company-to-narrow-broadband-gap-for-remote-areas-idUSKCN1UJ2L0

Canada , Investment , Market , Internet , Satellite , Telesat , LEO , Rural , NavdeepBains