Where on Earth are we? A new signal for a new era
A hundred years ago, mariners relied on the stars to guide them across the oceans. Then came paper maps (once a glovebox essential), followed by digital navigation systems. Over the past three decades, satellite navigation has revolutionized the way people move.
Global navigation satellite systems, such as GPS, have become an invisible utility and are now embedded in nearly every aspect of modern life, from navigating with a smartphone and ordering groceries online to coordinating flights and dispatching emergency services. They provide positioning, navigation, and timing services to more than 6.4 billion devices worldwide.
But as technology advances, so do the demands for precision and reliability.
Emerging technologies such as autonomous cars, drone deliveries, and automated machinery in agriculture or logistics rely on always knowing their exact location, with centimetre-level precision. Current positioning systems, designed decades ago, are not built to meet these new challenges. Enter: Xona Space Systems.
New vision for navigation
Xona is a startup with growing operations in Montreal, Quebec. The company is developing a new kind of navigation system called Pulsar, designed to offer a higher level of performance than traditional systems.
Unlike current navigation systems that operate in medium Earth orbit, Xona's Pulsar satellites will fly in low Earth orbit, which is 20 times closer to Earth. This proximity enables stronger, faster signals, which results in centimetre-level accuracy for users on the ground without the need for specialized hardware. Additionally, these signals, 100 times more powerful than GPS signals, will be encrypted: a new level of security that provides protection against unauthorized disruption.
Tyler Reid, Co-Founder and CTO of Xona, explains, "The project aims to advance the technology to a whole new level of precision – it's not just about knowing where you are, but which sidewalk you're on, or what side of the street your ride is waiting."
Xona's first production-class satellite, Pulsar-0, being assembled. (Credit: Aerospacelab)
Xona's technology also has the potential to support satellite Earth observation applications.
By providing more reliable positioning and timing data, even in challenging environments such as polar regions, severe weather, and dense forests (where today's GPS technology falls short), Pulsar could enhance how satellites collect information. It could also improve how that information is interpreted to better understand our planet.
While many ground-based technologies are disrupted by snow, fog, or rain, Xona's satellite system will remain unaffected by weather conditions. This could make it especially valuable in remote and northern regions, such as Canada's Arctic, where reliable navigation is often a challenge.
From early support to lift-off
In Pulsar's early development phase, Xona's Montreal-based team received funding and technical guidance from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) through the smartEarth funding initiative, the Space Technology Development Program and the Canada-European Space Agency Cooperation Agreement. This support helped validate the navigation capabilities of the Pulsar satellite system. It also enabled Xona to refine its system design, build software tools and develop and test receiver technology. The company collaborated with University of Calgary researchers to explore how the technology could address navigation gaps in remote areas.
Xona's Pulsar-0 satellite undergoing vibration environmental testing with Experior Laboratories. (Credit: Aerospacelab)
These early efforts helped lay the groundwork for future applications, such as improving transportation access in underserved communities. They also contributed to the growth of Xona's presence in Canada, reinforcing Montreal's position as a key player in advanced satellite innovation.
Today, Xona is entering a new phase: moving from prototype to product. Following a successful demonstrator mission in , the company launched its first production-class satellite, Pulsar-0, in . Over the coming years, Xona plans to scale its manufacturing and launch capacity to grow its constellation to over 250 satellites, achieving persistent and redundant coverage everywhere on Earth.
The completed Pulsar-0 satellite launched in June 2025. (Credit: Aerospacelab)
Concrete benefits for Canadians
- Greater autonomy
Canada can reduce its reliance on foreign systems like GPS, for essential services, with a commercial alternative rooted in Montreal. - Better coverage in the North
Xona's low Earth orbit satellites perform well at high latitudes, helping close longstanding navigation gaps in the Arctic and other remote regions. This is vital for aviation, maritime operations, defence, and space weather monitoring. - Connecting remote communities
Reliable satellite services like Xona's can support safety, economic activity, and digital access in under-served and Indigenous communities. - Infrastructure that fits Canada's geography
Xona's orbital design delivers national coverage, including rural and remote areas, without relying on dense, expensive ground networks. - Advancing Canadian research
Collaboration with institutions like the University of Calgary are helping unlock new applications in Earth observation, space weather, and environmental science.
Navigating tomorrow
Xona's vision is to offer modern, high-performance infrastructure for location and time – one that's built for emerging technologies like autonomous transportation. It also aims to strengthen national resilience and expand access to precise location and timing services worldwide.
"As we grow our constellation, Montreal is becoming central to Xona's mission to launch the next generation of satellite navigation. We're investing here to develop essential infrastructure and strengthen partnerships with local companies in a city quickly emerging as a global space technology hub," says Tyler Reid.
We've entered a new era: one where we no longer rely solely on the stars to find our way, but on the satellites orbiting among them. Xona's satellites represent a step forward in redefining how we navigate our world – from busy city streets to remote northern communities, and beyond.