Research & Development Workshop 2019
In 2018, the Government of Canada gave the mandate to the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to bring together key contributors to create new technologies and a value chain to improve broadband connectivity in remote and rural communities in Canada.
In response, NRC funded a research program entitled
High Throughput Secure Networks for Rural and Remote Communities (HTSN) that would invest in research and development (R&D) in three areas:
- Core photonics: to increase the throughput of optical fibre networks with disruptive technologies, including innovations in lasers, modulators, and photodetectors.
- Photonics for Fixed Wireless Access: to develop Radio-over-Fibre (RoF) technologies that will distribute radio frequencies from 30 GHz to 300 GHz in the optical domain.
- Photonics for Satellite Communications (SATCOM): to develop new generation of space-qualified on-board photonic subsystems for low earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites that will have lower payload mass and volume and increased processing bandwidth; and to develop innovative photonic technologies to enable satellite-to-satellite and ground-to-satellite communications.
- During the Canadian Space Summit (CSS) 2018, NRC held a series of consultations, within the Satellite Communications stream, to discuss the HTSN priorities and how NRC might bring together the resources to develop such an initiative. On March 5, 2019 NRC began discussions with Satellite Canada Innovation Network (SatCan) to form the Optical Satellite Communications Network. On September 1, 2019 the Optical SatCom Consortium (OSC or Consortium) was formed by agreement among NRC and 14 other institutions, organizations and SME’s.
- The OSC Workshop is taking place on November 19-20, 2019. The two days will be the first opportunity for Members to meet and discuss projects to be undertaken and funded with the Consortium at the Canadian Space Summit 2019.
- The OSC is seeking additional members, throughout the value chain, to bringing together technology innovators, technology suppliers, product manufacturers and end users. The OSC is working to position Canada’s industries to contribute to research in Photonics for Satellite Communications.
- Contact Michelle Mendes or Ryan Anderson at info@satcan.ca if you are interested to join or receive more information.
