Ice Wireless and Iristel recently wrapped up testing of a new satellite-based telephone and Internet network to be launched in Canada's northern territories. This network was first demonstrated in Nunavut's capital, Iqaluit, on October 31 of this year to members of the Northern Communications and Information Systems Working Group.
The testing was conducted using a 24-transponder C-band satellite called SES (News - Alert) AMC-9, which sports a footprint about the size of Nunavut and is capable of covering other rural communities in Canada's North. These successful trials also used a range of technology and partnerships, including NovelSat modulation technology, XipLink (News - Alert) acceleration performance enhancement and Atop HD video streaming and formatting for GSM/IP-based devices.
Onsite support, meanwhile, was provided by Coman Arctic, a logistics company based in Iqaluit that has worked with Ice Wireless for the past two years in order to bring competitive telecommunications services to Nunavut.
"This is the first time anyone has field tested an SES satellite in Canada's North," said Samer Bishay, president of Ice Wireless and Iristel. "What we experienced in Iqaluit was absolutely amazing. Our call quality for our fixed line and mobile phone tests was crystal clear, and we demonstrated broadband Internet speeds of 100 Mbits/s on a 2.4 meter dish, which is just as good, if not better, than any other satellite covering the North today. We are thrilled with the results."
Juch-Tech, a Hamilton-based earth station, will handle space and earth segment connectivity. The company has much experience providing Internet solutions to areas of Africa and believes that Canada's territories have fallen beneath the standards of even the world's poorest regions in terms of telecommunications service.
Due to the success of these satellite trials, Ice Wireless is planning to roll out 3G service to Iqaluit in the summer of 2013. Meanwhile, Iristel will expand its CLEC footprint to offer a range of telephony services, including fixed line and long distance.
In October, Ice Wireless and Iristel addressed security concerns over the use of Huawei-made antennas and fiber optic cables, stating that the claims were "absurd from a technology perspective" as the service provider ultimately has the last say in terms of network security.
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Edited by Stefanie Mosca