Ottawa aims to attract technology companies and jobs with next-generation mobile test site
News Release
Federal-municipal partnership will allow 5G companies to test applications in outdoor lab at Ottawa City Hall
November 24, 2017 – Ottawa
The Government of Canada’s Communications Research Centre (CRC) and the City of Ottawa have set up a world-leading 5G test site at Ottawa City Hall. Technology companies and other 5G collaborators are invited to learn from the CRC’s leading work on 5G and showcase their own innovations in the heart of the nation’s capital.
As Canadians become more connected and plugged in, mobile networks are quickly reaching their capacities. This 5G technology will be a game changer in wireless telecommunications, ushering in a more advanced network for future generations with the capacity for more devices and higher speeds. It will enable innovations such as smart cities, connected cars, and other machine-to-machine communication and artificial intelligence applications.
The test site at Ottawa City Hall is a collaboration between the Government of Canada and the City of Ottawa. This partnership was celebrated by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa. Researchers can demonstrate recent 5G advances at the site including ground-breaking technology that uses engineered surfaces to significantly increase coverage. The CRC and the City of Ottawa are working together with technology companies and world-leading experts to help make Canada a leader in 5G.
This collaboration contributes to the Innovation and Skills Plan, by helping to give Canada’s innovators and job creators access to the real-world testing facilities needed to remain leaders in the wireless digital economy. By building this wireless capacity, Canada will be poised to take advantage of growth opportunities and create well-paying, middle-class jobs for the future.
Quotes
“This is the future! 5G will impact every aspect of society. It will allow billions of devices to connect better and faster. This will lead to new, innovative applications of wireless technologies. The test site will help to advance Canada’s competitive advantage in 5G by giving innovators the ability to use the facility and showcase 5G wireless applications in Ottawa. I encourage companies from across Canada and from across the world to come and participate in Ottawa’s 5G innovation eco-system.”
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
“The City of Ottawa is proud to partner with the Government of Canada’s Communications Research Centre on the 5G test site at City Hall. Together, we are facilitating innovation, growing our knowledge-based economy and advancing connectivity for future generations. As a leader in Smart City initiatives, Ottawa is the clear choice for companies looking to develop 5G-enabled innovations.”
– Jim Watson, City of Ottawa Mayor
“At Ottawa City Hall we are demonstrating an innovative way to increase 5G coverage using high frequency spectrum. This test site in the city of Ottawa will help advance 5G-friendly smart cities that connect people and places.”
– Dr. Jean Luc Bérubé, President, Communications Research Centre Canada
Quick Facts
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Spectrum refers to the invisible radio waves that transmit everything from TV and radio broadcasting to data and phone service for smartphones.
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The Communications Research Centre conducts world-class research to optimize the use of wireless spectrum for next-generation mobile services.
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CRC researchers are pursuing some of the most progressive ideas in the world for managing spectrum including 5G wireless, big data analytics, cloud research, artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art visualization.
Associated Links
Contacts
Follow the department on Twitter: @ISED_CA
Karl W. Sasseville
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
343-291-2500
Media Relations
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
343-291-1777
ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca
City of Ottawa
Media Relations
613-580-2450
medias@ottawa.ca
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