Jacques van Oene
January 19th 05, 04:15 PM
Telesat brings broadband communications to 30 Aboriginal communities
Partners join to launch Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network.
SIOUX LOOKOUT, ON, January 19, 2005 - Telesat, one of the world's leading
satellite operators, joined Industry Canada and Aboriginal partners from
Ontario, Québec and Manitoba today to launch the Northern Indigenous
Community Satellite Network (NICSN). The network will bring telehealth,
distance education, video conferencing and other critical services to 30
remote communities.
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhance communications services to
rural and remote regions, Telesat provided two C-band satellite channels, or
transponders, for the federal government to use to serve public institutions
in remote areas of Canada. The NICSN will use this valuable capacity to
provide high-quality video, audio and data communications to participating
communities.
"In making this satellite capacity available, Telesat is committed to
helping connect Canadians to broadband communications - no matter where they
live," said Paul Bush, Telesat's vice president of broadcasting and
corporate development. "Through the successful partnership between local
Aboriginal leaders, Industry Canada and Telesat, this community-owned
network has become a reality."
In 1999, Telesat began working with Keewaytinook Okimakanak in Northern
Ontario to explore ways of delivering broadband services to the
satellite-served community of Fort Severn. This relationship expanded over
the ensuing years as KO took on the challenge of managing Industry Canada's
Aboriginal SMART Communities Demonstration Project. The introduction of the
federal government's National Satellite Initiative in 2003 contributed
further to the development of NICSN by providing the additional transponder
space that allowed Northern Manitoba and Nunavik to join the network.
Telesat's contribution of capacity represents an investment in NICSN of $20
million. This has been complemented by a government investment, through
FedNor, of more than $12 millon for community/satellite infrastructure.
Bush was joined today at the festivities in Sioux Lookout by The Honourable
Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State for FedNor and the Chiefs and Mayors of the
30 communities served by NICSN.
About Telesat
Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems
management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first
domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today,
Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing
telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is
a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the
globe. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading
communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and
Europe.
For more information:
Dan Tisch or Karen Passmore (media only)
Argyle Rowland Communications
(416) 968-7311
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Partners join to launch Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network.
SIOUX LOOKOUT, ON, January 19, 2005 - Telesat, one of the world's leading
satellite operators, joined Industry Canada and Aboriginal partners from
Ontario, Québec and Manitoba today to launch the Northern Indigenous
Community Satellite Network (NICSN). The network will bring telehealth,
distance education, video conferencing and other critical services to 30
remote communities.
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhance communications services to
rural and remote regions, Telesat provided two C-band satellite channels, or
transponders, for the federal government to use to serve public institutions
in remote areas of Canada. The NICSN will use this valuable capacity to
provide high-quality video, audio and data communications to participating
communities.
"In making this satellite capacity available, Telesat is committed to
helping connect Canadians to broadband communications - no matter where they
live," said Paul Bush, Telesat's vice president of broadcasting and
corporate development. "Through the successful partnership between local
Aboriginal leaders, Industry Canada and Telesat, this community-owned
network has become a reality."
In 1999, Telesat began working with Keewaytinook Okimakanak in Northern
Ontario to explore ways of delivering broadband services to the
satellite-served community of Fort Severn. This relationship expanded over
the ensuing years as KO took on the challenge of managing Industry Canada's
Aboriginal SMART Communities Demonstration Project. The introduction of the
federal government's National Satellite Initiative in 2003 contributed
further to the development of NICSN by providing the additional transponder
space that allowed Northern Manitoba and Nunavik to join the network.
Telesat's contribution of capacity represents an investment in NICSN of $20
million. This has been complemented by a government investment, through
FedNor, of more than $12 millon for community/satellite infrastructure.
Bush was joined today at the festivities in Sioux Lookout by The Honourable
Joe Comuzzi, Minister of State for FedNor and the Chiefs and Mayors of the
30 communities served by NICSN.
About Telesat
Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems
management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first
domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today,
Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing
telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is
a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the
globe. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading
communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and
Europe.
For more information:
Dan Tisch or Karen Passmore (media only)
Argyle Rowland Communications
(416) 968-7311
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info