Ericsson Canada is partnering with the federal government to create a wireless communications testing ground in Ottawa’s south end. The telecommunications giant announced last week it will set up 5G-enabled technology at Area X.O, a 1,900-acre site on Woodroffe Avenue that features high-speed wireless networks aimed at fast-tracking the design and testing of autonomous vehicle, […]
Ericsson Canada is partnering with the federal government to create a wireless communications testing ground in Ottawa’s south end.
The telecommunications giant announced last week it will set up 5G-enabled technology at Area X.O, a 1,900-acre site on Woodroffe Avenue that features high-speed wireless networks aimed at fast-tracking the design and testing of autonomous vehicle, drone, robotics and cybersecurity technology in a controlled environment under all types of weather conditions.
Ericsson said the collaboration with the federal government, dubbed the Advanced Wireless Communications Innovation Network (AWIN), will provide “a secure environment” where the Department of National Defence, other governmental departments, Indigenous organizations, first responders, Canadian enterprises and academia can develop and test future wireless use cases.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This partnership marks an important step forward in applying advanced wireless technology to strengthen Canada's national security and resilience,” Ericsson Canada president Nishant Grover said in a news release.
“Through AWIN, we're bringing Ericsson's global leadership in mission-critical networks to the people and organizations who protect Canadians every day — helping them innovate, connect, and respond faster when it matters most.”
Ericsson said researchers will conduct “real-world trials” of technologies such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to strengthen Canada’s defence and public safety sectors.
The company said it will also provide 5G-enabled connectivity solutions to help first responders improve communication, co-ordination and response times during emergencies.
Calian, AI giant Cohere join forces for military project
Kanata-based Calian Group is teaming up with rising Canadian AI star Cohere to assess the Toronto company’s artificial intelligence platform in military situations.
Calian said last week the partnership will focus on “applying secure, Canadian-developed enterprise AI to improve decision-making speed, enhance training outcomes and strengthen operational readiness for the Canadian military, allied forces and small to mid-sized enterprises” through Calian Ventures, a new program aimed at helping SMEs serving Canada’s defence sector scale up and sell their inventions to the world.
Calian said it will use Cohere’s agentic AI platform, North, in “controlled defence environments” where the Kanata firm employs its next-generation military training software and hardware.
“This collaboration reflects how trusted AI can be integrated into defence environments in a practical and scalable way,” Chris Pogue, president of Calian’s Defence and Space division, said in a news release.
“By combining Cohere’s best-in-class AI capabilities with Calian’s expertise in operational readiness training and mission support, we are helping organizations improve decision-making, accelerate learning and enhance preparedness for complex operational environments.”
Telesat to help deploy mini nuclear reactors in Canada’s North
Satellite systems provider Telesat will help a space and defence startup operate small nuclear reactors in the Arctic and other remote regions, the Ottawa-based company announced last week.
Telesat said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC) that will see the Ottawa firm use its Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit satellite network to help CSMC deploy and operate its micro reactors “across both defence and civilian applications.”
CSMC, which was founded in 2020 and was formerly known as the Canadian Space Mining Corp., is developing micro nuclear reactors “designed to provide safe, reliable, and scalable power for remote communities, critical infrastructure, and strategic missions,” Telesat said in a news release, adding the reactors will serve the Arctic and other remote environments.
“Telesat has a long history of delivering mission-critical communications for governments, enterprises, and communities, including in Canada’s North,” Telesat president and CEO Dan Goldberg said in the release.
“CSMC is advancing highly relevant energy capabilities, and we look forward to supporting their deployment and operations with secure, resilient connectivity in remote and Arctic environments.”
Goldberg said last fall Telesat is targeting a December 2026 launch date for the first low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites in the US$3.5-billion Lightspeed project. The company expects to spend several months testing the new devices and plans to launch commercial service next year once 96 satellites are in orbit. Telesat is aiming to have 156 LEO dishes circling the Earth by the end of 2027.
C-COM Satellite Systems adds to product stack
Ottawa-based C-COM Satellite Systems said last week it has developed a new series of transportable tracking antenna systems for low-Earth and medium-Earth-orbit satellites.
The company said the “rugged, carbon-fibre-based” system can provide 24-7 tracking of LEO and MEO satellites. C-COM said the system fits into two transportable cases, can be assembled without any tools in less than 10 minutes and can automatically acquire and begin tracking LEO and MEO satellites at the push of a button.
C-COM expects the LEO Tracker to be available for sale before the end of August.
The company, which trades on the TSX Venture Exchange, designs, develops and manufactures transportable and mobile satellite-based antenna systems for customers in more than 100 countries. C-COM said early last month it had received $1.35 million worth of new orders for its flagship iNetVu products. 
