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Wireless Communications

Canadian Innovations Capture the Imagination of Global Telecommunications Firms

Canada is a leading wireless research and development hub— Canadian companies are leading global players in areas such as WiFi, mesh networks, WiMAX, RFID, UWB, SDR as well as broadband, satellite, and fibre-optics applications. Their drive to innovate is supported by the generous Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive programs offered by the Government of Canada. Leading multinational telecom companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia, and Huawei have also benefited from these programs and have chosen to invest in R&D in Canada. Swedish manufacturer Ericsson selected Canada as the site of its largest R&D and services centre outside of Sweden.

Global leaders in Next Generation Networks (NGN) are in Canada— Canada is attracting major global enterprises to undertake their NGN research and development activity. These include Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, and Nokia Siemens Networks. Canadian companies such as Bridgewater Systems and Redline Communications are also global leaders in NGN technologies. Active R&D in nanomaterials and next generation power amplifiers is underway in Canada. Advances in these latest technologies will enable reductions in size, weight, and power consumption for wireless equipment as next-generation networks improve.

Significant presence in Mobile Devices and Applications— Canadian companies are global leaders in providing new and unique end-to-end solutions for data communications. Home-grown companies Research In Motion Ltd. and Sierra Wireless, renowned for their Blackberry® smartphones and cellular Aircards® respectively, have captured the world’s attention with their innovative mobile platforms and devices. Canada is also a strong player in mobile platforms and the distribution of content creation tools.

Recent Foreign Investments – Wireless Communications

Map of Canada showing four locations : Vanvouver, British Columbia; Northern Ontario; Toronto, Ontario; and Ottawa, Ontario

In November 2010, Illinois-based Tellabs announced plans to create a new mobile internet R&D office in Vancouver.
In December 2010, New Jersey’s Avaya Inc. announced it will invest $165 million over three years in its two Ontario facilities that conduct work on new unified communications and collaboration technologies.
In January 2011, Huawei Technologies Co. of China opened its new Canadian headquarters in Toronto and signed joint agreements with tele-communications providers Bell Canada and Telus Corp. to create innovation centres in several Canadian provinces.
In February 2011, the Canadian subsidiary of Maryland-based Ciena Corporation announced a $900 million investment in Canada, with the goal of developing new technology and making Ottawa the focal point of its global R&D tele-communications efforts. Ciena plans to create 353 new jobs at its Ottawa labs in the next five years.