Canada has a long history in the satellite communications (satcom) sector because of the technology's ability to easily reach the sparsely distributed population found in many parts of the country. As the third nation in space, Canada has always been a leader in space applications and that record continues to today.

As the governments centre of expertise for satellite communications, the Satellite Communications and Radio Propagation Research Branch is able to leverage it's expertise in a wide range of areas into practical applications for government and the industry.

The branch performs important R&D, ranging from the design, testing and demonstration of new technologies to the management of major satcom programs. These R&D activities help determine the evolution of future satellite networks used for communication, navigation or search and rescue operations. They also help industry development through technology transfer. This expertise also allows the branch to act in an advisory capacity for CRC's parent department, Industry Canada, and its partners, which include the Canadian Space Agency, National Defence, and other government departments, academic institutions, the private sector and international agencies from around the world.

A perfect example of CRC's capabilities is our involvement with Telesat's Anik F2 satellite. Through a partnership with the Canadian Space Agency and several private sector companies including Telesat, EMS Technologies and COM DEV, CRC has provided technical advice and supervision for a number of technologies that are now up in orbit on Anik F2. The news release is available from Telesat at www.telesat.ca. Our next step is to use those technologies to test new ways of communicating in rural and remote areas of Canada, a goal we can all appreciate.