Hunter Communications Inc. announces its entry into the Canadian satellite market and applauds the decision of Industry Canada to create a more level playing field for satellite services between foreign and Canadian satellite operators.   

Hunter Communications has entered the Canadian market and is selling satellite space segment on its hosted payload - first using the Satmex 5 satellite that will then be supplemented with additional capacity on Satmex 7 in approximately two years.  The Satmex 5 satellite has been positioned to serve all of North America, but with an emphasis on northern Canada, where capacity has been very scarce and expensive.  Satmex 7 will have an even more tailored coverage of northern Canada. With an orbital position of 114.9 WL, the footprints of the two satellites are ideal to cover the entire Canadian land mass.

“As satellite markets and service providers have become increasingly international, it is important that Canadian national licensees have a level playing field with all other operators,” said Brent Perrott, President of Hunter. “Hunter fully supports the new framework that reduces these burdens on Canadian satellite operators, as well as opening any remaining barriers to NAFTA and other foreign-flagged operators.

“While participants in the Industry Canada consultation process had argued against continuing the requirement for full northern Canada coverage, Hunter has purposefully designed its satellite capacity to do exactly that -- provide full Canadian coverage, because Hunter believes in the potential of the Canadian north.”

With increased competitive telecommunications service in northern Canada and a competitive satellite environment across Canada, Perrott said the additional capacity at excellent prices will play an important role in providing competitive alternatives, significantly reduced ground station costs, diversity and redundancy.