Broadband Access

Broadband access activities are aimed at carrying out research that will help deliver cost-effective solutions for access to broadband services in rural and remote communities in Canada. These activities will also assist in the U-CAN program that has been proposed by the Telecom Policy Review Panel report, providing ubiquitous broadband throughout all regions in Canada that the market is not likely to serve on its own by 2010. These activities will lay the foundation for projects that could help to provide such access in other parts of the world.

• CRC has established a pilot operation in India that showcases the feasibility of a cognitive wireless system with the capability to sense the radio environment for interference and identify poor quality links. Called the Microwave Light Organized Network (MILTON) Experimental System, it was delivered and installed at the Indian government’s Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) facility in Bangalore, and has completed a year of near flawless operation.

Radio Spectrum

Industry Canada regulates the radio spectrum, a mandate that calls for a solid technical base on which to make proper decisions and policies. CRC research in this area supports spectrum policy and regulation development, more efficient use of the allocated spectrum and a better utilization of new frequency bands.

Internet and Convergence

After some 20 years of implementation, the Internet continues to evolve, making it important for Canada to remain at the forefront of developments and improvements. In particular, Internet at higher access speed is becoming ever more readily available to larger numbers of consumers at a reasonable cost, a trend that is leading to convergence among various competing and complementary systems for delivering information. CRC is exploring the implications and potential of such trends, enabling government to make the most informed policy decisions in this area.

• User Controlled LightPath (UCLP) software allows users to treat network resources as objects, enabling more powerful and flexible use of an entire network. CANARIE, Canada’s advanced Internet development organization, issued a major contract to develop services based on this technology, with work at CRC being carried out in collaboration with the University of Ottawa, the Spanish i2CAT Foundation, and Inocybe of University of Montreal.

Network Security and Public Safety

The increasing use of network infrastructure for communications, commerce, defence and other applications is paralleled by a growing awareness of the need for network security and the role this infrastructure can play in public safety. In partnership with other Canadian organizations, CRC is examining the needs and capabilities of technology in this field, including the security of wireless networks, a matter of increasing concern.

• Software Defined Radio (SDR), which enables different types of computing and information technology hardware to handle radio transmissions with the Software Communications Architecture - Reference Implementation (SCARI) program from CRC, could find significant use in public safety and search and rescue activities. The National Search and Rescue Secretariat, an independent federal agency, has asked CRC to test a dual-band, protocol converter for this application.

Defence Communications

The Department of National Defence (DND), through Defence R&D Canada (DRDC), is one of CRC’s major clients, engaging researchers with tasks conducted on a cost recovery basis. Most of these activities are closely tied to CRC’s expertise and to DND’s requirements for communications R&D, creating a mutually beneficial relationship. DND’s present interests include interoperability of communications networks, quality of service, network security and high-capacity wireless systems.

• CRC is collaborating with several nations in developing a new high-data-rate narrowband waveform intended to meet requirements for NATO network-enabled operations.
• CRC co-chairs the Narrowband Waveform expert group of NATO’s VHF/UHF Radio Working Group, which is responsible for the development of interoperability standards in military tactical radio systems.

Applications

Much of the growing interest and demand for broadband technology is driven by applications that require a high level of quality service. With access to various national and international communications networks, CRC is wellpositioned to demonstrate some of the most novel and promising of these applications, such as on-line education or medical systems, with a particular focus on a high degree of social or industrial benefit. Applications are also demonstrated for remote network access using CRC’s satellite communications facilities.

• CRC participated in the tele-homecare REACH project (Remote Assertive Community Homecare), funded jointly by the European Space Agency and Canadian Space Agency, which installed on patient’s premises specialized nursing stations for physician and nurses to communicate remotely with psychiatric patients via satellite links.