“Beyond being a technical achievement, we care about satellite communications for what they can do to help advance human welfare and public policy goals,” remarked Andre Arbour, Director General of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in his keynote speech at the workshop "New Frontiers for Broadband and Resilience in Telecommunications – Satellites and Beyond,” on October 16, 2024.
Around 100 participants including policy makers, industry leaders, and academics attended the workshop convened by Ivey Professors Erik Bohlin, Chair in Telecommunications Economics, Policy and Regulation, and Romel Mostafa, Director of Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management.
Held against the backdrop of ISED’s national policy consultations on mobile coverage and satellite networks, the discussion emphasized how non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) can strengthen resilience, bridge digital divides, and foster telecommunication innovation in Canada.
In his keynote presentation, Arbour discussed how satellites have emerged as a cornerstone of Canada’s digital infrastructure, particularly in regions where ground-based solutions are economically or technically unfeasible.
“In Canada, this is critical with our geography, including several low-density and remote areas that can’t sustain traditional infrastructure,” explains Arbour. “Satellites connect households, remote communities, scientific research installations, mining operations, and even aircraft and ships where physical connections aren’t an option.”
Read a detailed breakdown of the workshop: Summary Of Workshop 'Satellites And Beyond'
Global Perspectives on Connectivity and Resilience
The workshop drew on international experiences to contextualize Canada’s approach to satellite communications drawing on examples from the U.S and New Zealand.
Martin Doczkat, Division Chief of Engineering and Technology at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), outlined the “Single Network Future” initiative, which integrates satellite and terrestrial networks to expand U.S. connectivity. He highlighted the FCC’s Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) program, enabling satellite operators and terrestrial providers to connect underserved areas using flexible-use spectrum. Doczkat emphasized satellite network flexibility for applications like airplanes, trains, and emergency response during hurricanes, focusing on balancing innovation and standardization.
Dr. Bronwyn Howell, Professor at Victoria Business School in New Zealand, presented a case study on addressing the digital divide in a geographically isolated and urbanized nation. Over 50% of New Zealand’s population lives in the upper North Island, enabling 87% fiber-to-the-home availability with 50% uptake. In rural areas, 14% of households use satellite services, driven by Starlink’s performance and high customer demand. Satellite technology introduces competition to the single terrestrial network, supports emergency management during disasters, and enables services like satellite-to-mobile texting, reshaping the telecom landscape and driving new research.
In a survey of remote Indigenous communities in Canada’s Northwest Territories (NWT), Rob McMahon of the University of Alberta finds that LEO systems have improved speed, reliability, and online access. However, with larger households benefitting most, high costs as well as limited local support remain key barriers. Programs like the Indigenous Stream of the Broadband Fund and spectrum set-asides aim to make broadband access more sustainable and equitable.
From Open Access to Space Debris as a Global Responsibility
Peter Cramton, Emeritus Professor at the University of Maryland, proposed a flexible market mechanism to address market failures in sectors like electricity, air transport, financial trading, and communications. His model creates an open-access platform for wholesale communication capacity based on time and location, enabling smaller players like Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) to buy bandwidth without negotiating with dominant providers. He argued such a platform fosters competition, equitable access, and solutions to congestion and scarcity.
Rob Frieden, Emeritus Professor of Telecommunication and Law at Penn State University, noted the growing "Tragedy of the Commons" in space caused by increasing space junk. He warned that unchecked commercialization, mismanaged satellite constellations, and abandoned launches risk triggering the Kessler Syndrome, where cascading collisions could render space unusable. Frieden recommended updating global frameworks, including amending the five Space Treaties, to enforce responsibilities for governments and private ventures to manage space debris effectively.
Panel Discussion: The Evolving Role of Satellite Telecommunications
The workshop featured a panel discussion, moderated by Romel Mostafa, with key industry leaders who explored the advancements, opportunities, and policy needs in satellite telecommunications, focusing on Canada’s remote and Indigenous communities.
The panel included Michèle Beck, Senior Vice President at Telesat; Imran Khan, Chief Financial Officer at Northwestel; Phil Moore, Vice President of Corporate Real Estate and Emergency Response at Telus; and Sohayla Praysner, an independent consultant with extensive experience in telecommunications and technology.
Praysner opened the discussion by noting how the satellite industry is evolving to seamlessly integrate with terrestrial networks, with edge computing and virtualization as playing key roles in this transformation. These innovations are making satellites more efficient and embedded within broader digital infrastructure. Building on this, Beck emphasized advancements such as reusable rockets and onboard satellite processing, which have significantly reduced costs and improved resiliency, establishing satellites as a cornerstone of global connectivity.
Khan focused on the role of satellites in bridging the digital divide, enabling affordable broadband access in remote and Indigenous communities where laying fiber-optic cables is not feasible. Moore reinforced this point by stressing the critical role of satellites in ensuring network resilience during emergencies, citing the Jasper wildfires, where satellite units maintained communication when traditional infrastructure failed.
The panel concluded that satellites will increasingly support connectivity in underserved areas while strengthening national security and critical infrastructure. Both Beck and Moore reiterated the critical role of public-private collaboration to fully realize the potential of satellite technologies and ensure their integration with terrestrial networks.
Towards Canada’s Satellite Telecom Strategy
In reflecting on the workshop’s programs, Georg Serentschy, Managing Partner at Serentschy Advisory Services GmbH, argued that public-private partnerships are essential for building robust networks in high-risk areas, including rural and remote regions reliant on aging networks vulnerable to climate events. Additionally, he observed that a supportive regulatory environment is vital for fostering long-term investment in resilient infrastructure, protecting consumers, and ensuring that telecommunications systems can withstand and recover from disruptions. This includes policies that encourage operator investment, provide consumer compensation mechanisms, and integrate emergency management frameworks into telecom regulation.
These measures will ensure operators can prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, minimizing service disruptions and strengthening infrastructure resilience.
“Satellite is not a niche technology [any more],” noted Adam Scott, Vice Chairperson of CRTC noted in his concluding keynote, “It cuts across the entire telecom agenda. As we work to expand access to high-speed services in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, improve cellular coverage along transportation routes, enhance network reliability, and increase competition and affordability, next-generation satellite technology is poised to play a key role.”
Recent CRTC decisions, such as funding LEO projects in Nunavut, exemplify the synergy between satellite and fiber infrastructure in delivering high-quality connectivity to underserved regions. As Canada looks ahead, collaboration across government, industry, and other key stakeholders will be key to advancing policy and unlock the full potential of satellite technologies, bridging digital gaps and ensuring a resilient digital future.
For more on the workshop agenda
Speakers
Andre Arbour: Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy, ISED
Erik Bohlin: Professor, Ivey Business School, and Ivey Chair in Telecommunication Economics, Policy and Regulation | View presentation material (PDF)
Peter Cramton: Emeritus Professor, University of Maryland | View presentation material (PDF)
Martin Doczkat: Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission | View presentation material (PDF)
Robert Frieden: Emeritus Professor, Penn State University | View presentation material (PDF)
Bronwyn Howell: Professor, Victoria Business School, New Zealand | View presentation material (PDF)
Rob McMahon: Associate Professor, Media & Technology Studies, University of Alberta | View presentation material (PDF)
Adam Scott: Vice Chair, CRTC
Georg Serentschy: Serentschy Advisory Services | View presentation material (PDF)
Romel Mostafa: Director, Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management, Ivey Business School
Panelists
Michèle Beck: Senior Vice President, Canadian Sales, Telesat
Imran Khan: Chief Financial Officer and VP, Corporate Services, Northwestel
Phil Moore: Vice President, Corporate Real Estate and Emergency Response, TELUS
Sohayla Praysner: Independent Advisor
This article was written by Jean-Pier Poma Rios (MBA ‘25) and Max Welyhorsky (MBA ‘25) with editorial support from Zsofia Agoston Villalba, LNC Policy and Communications Specialist.