Vanguard Magazine

satCom tries. With its higher power focus in the far North, Hunter can provide communi- cations for airplanes, boats and communi- ties throughout the length and breadth of Canada. Hunter's capability is being used in "nearly all aircraft flying over Canadian airspace – that includes a lot of Interna- tional-flagged airlines – to deliver inter- net to passengers," Perrott pointed out. He went on to explain that Hunter also provides critical communications to ships in the Northwest Passage up to Resolute Bay and beyond. "We've provided dem- onstration services to the Army Rangers and hope to ultimately provide service for every branch of the Canadian military and civilian agencies," he said. He went on to stress how their service can also benefit the military. He explained that any branch of the military can now access high-speed broadband as far north as 80 degrees north latitude using anten- nas as small as 29cm and at much higher speeds than before. "That's what we're doing today with every airplane going over Canadian airspace. That can equally be applied to every Coast Guard vessel or military outpost." With more companies getting into the satellite communications space, the military will have more options to provide bandwidth at lower cost. "Ev- ery branch of the military is hungry, even desperate, for more bandwidth. It's criti- cal to provide that if our armed forces are to remain effective in securing our bor- ders," he said. As with any business, there are always challenges. In providing any service that operates on a 24/7 basis, there is invari- ably the challenge of rendering uninter- rupted service to customers. "But due to the benefits that satellites bring to all Canadian citizens, we work tirelessly to provide such a service. The general pub- lic though is often unaware of the integral role that satellites play in their lives," he pointed out. From aiding navigation on Google Maps and GPS to receiving our latest shows on television, communica- tions satellites play an important role. Many remote communities use satellites as their life-line; sea-going vessels and every aircraft – whether military, coast guard or civilian – all rely on satellite communica- tions. It is also a critical component for many companies in tracking assets, provid- ing real-time data transfer, and for morale and welfare services for remote employees. Even when we are at our most vulnerable point following a disaster, satellites are typically the first line of communications to be employed. Looking at the future of communica- tions technology, Perrott believes satellites are going to become even more disruptive. "Bandwidth is constantly getting cheaper, satellite antennas are getting smaller, more affordable, and even more discreet, while the applications used in satellites are ex- ploding," he said. "Innovative business concepts like the Hunter Canada Ku-beam enable geostationary satellite programs to www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2018 43 N A V Y L E A G U E 1 8 9 5 L I G U E N A V A L E Pacific Seapower: A Strong, Secure and Engaged Maritime Future 3 Days of Panel Discussions and Presentations 15-18 October Victoria, BC Canada HOSTED BY The Navy League of Canada in association with The Royal Canadian Navy "Excellent range of expert presenters and international representation" "Unique opportunity to network with multi- nation naval officers" "A must for all practitioners and students of maritime security" "Cutting edge materials. Great presentations" "Presentations and discussion exceeded expectations. World-class!" mscconference.com come in at lower cost, and launch services like SpaceX have cut the cost of launching satellite." New advancements in antenna technol- ogy will allow us to install small mobile antennas. Today we see that occurring in the commercial airline industry where WiFi is being rolled out. Perrott predicts that within the next decade, we can expect nearly every plane, bus, train and car to be outfitted with these small, inexpensive antennas to allow satellite delivery on the move. The contract with the CBC has some personal significance to Perrott. He said growing up in rural Alberta, they had only two or three TV stations, which resulted in CBC Radio being on all day at home. Now, for the first time, he said, his moth- er can relate to what he does every day. "There was once a few-second hiccup in the radio broadcast, and she called to in- quire if there was anything amiss – quite funny in a way – but it gives you some pride in playing a small part in the role that the CBC plays in the 'Canada Lives Here' experience." "Being entrusted by a flagship broad- casting station in Canada like CBC to de- liver its content… we couldn't be prouder to have been chosen," he said. To learn more about Hunter Commu- nications, a company that been providing satellite solutions for government, energy, maritime and aeronautical sectors since 2001, visit huntercomm.net.

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