The contracts have been awarded through the Canadian Space Agency's (CSA) Advanced Satellite Communications Program, a federal program implemented in co-operation with the Communications Research Centre (CRC) of Industry Canada. In this public/private sector partnership, the participating companies are providing 25 percent (approximately $15M) of the funding while the federal government is providing 75 percent of the costs (approximately $47M).

The companies awarded contracts are CAL Corporation in Ottawa, COM DEV International in Cambridge, Ontario, Nortel (Northern Telecom) in Ottawa, Spar Aerospace in Ste-Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, and Telesat Canada in Gloucester, Ontario. These contracts will also include subcontractors in many other regions of the country.

The Minister of Industry John Manley said ``these contracts will strengthen the competitive advantage Canada's high-tech industry currently has on the growing international advanced satellite communications market. The investment will also help to ensure that all Canadians are provided access to and benefit from a vast array of high-speed, multi-media products and services.''

In Ottawa, CAL Corporation has been awarded $2 million dollars to develop technology for satellite-to-satellite communications. COM DEV International Ltd., in Cambridge, has received a contract worth $9.2 million for the development of advanced payload subsystems designed for multi-media communications, including satellite antennas and optical intersatellite links.

A contribution of $12.3 million dollars will allow Nortel, in Ottawa, to develop technologies for low-cost user terminals designed for the next generation of broadband satellite communication systems, expected to be put into service by the year 2000 and beyond. Spar Aerospace has been awarded $16.2 million to its Space Systems Division in Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec for the design, construction and testing of advanced satellite payload technologies. For Telesat Canada, a $7.8 million dollar contract will support advanced satellite communications technologies aimed at networks and applications using existing satellite systems.

The new technologies being developed are specifically aimed at increasing the capability of satellites to handle the rapidly expanding market demands for vast amounts of data at high speeds, all within financial reach of ordinary homeowners. As a result, it may soon be possible for someone from home, school or a large institutions to transmit and receive huge amounts of information at extremely high speeds. The types of services available might include multi-media products such as high-speed Internet access, two-way audio and video communications.

CSA is providing an additional $2.8M to CRC to project manage the Advanced Satellite Communications Program because of its extensive experience in satellite communications and its communications R&D expertise.

The contracts also involve the participation of a number of subcontractors including IMT ComSys in Burnaby, B.C., and SED Systems Ltd. in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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