Gerry Turcotte, President Communications Research Centre Canad

Turcotte, Gerry

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OHIO Open Library (Ohio University)

Online Journal of Space Communication Volume 2 Issue 4 Satellite Communication in Canada (Spring 2003) Article 23 May 2021 CRC Perspective Gerry Turcotte Follow this and additional works at: https://ohioopen.library.ohio.edu/spacejournal  Part of the Astrodynamics Commons, Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics Commons, Space Vehicles Commons, Systems and Communications Commons, and the Systems Engineering and Multidisciplinary Design Optimization Commons Recommended Citation Turcotte, Gerry (2021) "CRC Perspective," Online Journal of Space Communication: Vol. 2 : Iss. 4 , Article 23. Available at: https://ohioopen.library.ohio.edu/spacejournal/vol2/iss4/23 This Critical Perspectives is brought to you for free and open access by the OHIO Open Library Journals at OHIO Open Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Online Journal of Space Communication by an authorized editor of OHIO Open Library. For more information, please contact deborded@ohio.edu.               1CRC PerspectiveBy Gerry Turcotte,President of Communications Research Centre CanadaThe history of satellite communications in Canada is closely linked to the historyof the Communications Research Centre.  Following the launch of Canada’s firstsatellite, Alouette 1, in 1962, CRC emerged as a world leader in ionosphericphenomena.  In 1976, Canada became the first country to test the concept ofdirect-to-home television broadcasting with the launch of Hermes in 1976.  Manyof the technologies, applications and Ku propagation models were developed byCRC or in partnership with Canadian industry.Throughout the 1980’s much of the satellite communications research at CRCwas directed towards mobile satellite communications.  Some of the earlydevelopments demonstrated the technical feasibility of various sub-systems (e.g.voice coding, signal design, aeronautical antennas) and satellites.  In the 1990’sCRC’s attention was focused on multimedia Ka Band satellite communications.During this period CRC developed Ka Band propagation models based on yearsof data collected using NASA’s Advanced Communications Technology Satellite(ACTS) satellite.  Multimedia satellite systems concepts were conceived, anddevelopment had begun and continues today on promising technologies thatimprove the reliability and efficiency of Ka Band satcom while reducing usercosts.  As well we continue to invest a considerable amount of our resources indemonstrating satellite applications, particularly in remote areas.  Thesedemonstrations, such as tele-education, disaster mitigation, and telehealth, arecarried out in collaboration with our many partners in government and industry.1Turcotte: CRC PerspectivePublished by OHIO Open Library, 2021              2This preliminary R&D into multimedia satcom performed at CRC and at otherresearch institutes and industries around the world has laid the ground work forKa Band satellite systems now about to be launched.  The first commercial KaBand payload serving North America will be on Telesat’s Anik F2.  This Ka Bandmultimedia payload, which will make broadband access possible throughoutCanada, results from a unique partnership that includes the Canadian SpaceAgency, CRC and the companies Telesat, EMS Technologies and ComDev.Satellite communications is an important part of Canada’s past, present andfuture. Part of CRC’s mission is to work with other government partners such asNational Defence, to help meet their needs for advanced communicationstechnologies, and the Canadian Space Agency, where CRC supports spaceindustry development programs by providing technologies and technical expertisein satellite communications.  The research and development performed at CRCwill continue to help ensure that satellite communications technologies andservices are available to meet the needs of Canadians now and in the future.CRC’s radio propagation experts are preparing for a measurement campaignneeded to model propagation at frequency bands beyond Ka.  CRC’s research intomore powerful and efficient source and channel coding, modulation techniques,protocols and RF subsystems will reduce the cost differential between terrestrialand satellite communications systems, thus helping to eliminate the barriers toaccess in remote communities.  CRC will continue to work with schools, hospitalsand communities in remote and rural areas to demonstrate applications that onlyadvanced satellite communications can provide.These activities at CRC and many others in terrestrial wireless and opticalcommunications, fulfill our mandate as a federal government research centre by2Online Journal of Space Communication, Vol. 2, Iss. 4 [2021], Art. 23https://ohioopen.library.ohio.edu/spacejournal/vol2/iss4/23              3making Canada the most connected nation in the world and one of the mostinnovative.For more information about CRC, visit www.crc.ca.3Turcotte: CRC PerspectivePublished by OHIO Open Library, 2021

CRC Perspective

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