Table of Contents

Background Information

Government of Canada – Capacity Credits

Telesat delivered North America's first commercial satellite-based broadband communications service in 2004 with the successful launch of Anik F2. The Government of Canada contributed to the development of an advanced broadband multimedia payload on Anik F2 satellite featuring the latest technologies that use the Ka-band frequency. This technology, a novelty at that time, was selected to allow high-speed large-capacity transmission for giving rural and remote Canadian regions access to the Internet via satellite at affordable prices.

In return for its contribution, Telesat provided the Government of Canada with capacity credits on the four (4) northern beams of the ka-band payload. The following figure gives the coverage area of those beams.

In order to optimize the use of the available capacity for high demanding bandwidth applications like tele-medicine and tele-education the Government of Canada embarked in the development of a ground infrastructure using the Digital Video Broadcasting – Return Channel via Satellite (DVB-RCS) standard. The necessary equipments were developed and some are currently in service in the northern territories on a trial basis. The following figure shows the main component of the system.

As you can see in this figure, there are three principal components in this system.

The first one is the DVB-RCS hub; one is located in Winnipeg and the other one in Vancouver. Those installations provide link between the satellite and to the southern network (CANARIE and internet). The second component of the system is the satellite itself with the Ka-band capacity. Finally, the last component is located at the end user site and comprises the antenna, the DVB-RCS user terminal and the user equipment.