| Operation ONLINE | Cable Atlantic |
| Newtel | Value Adding Electronic Networks |
| The Internet | Research and Development |
| Systems Integrators | Software Developers |
| Manufacturing and Design |
Considerable effort has been invested in this year's edition of The
Economy to describe and outline the state of Innovative Technology in the
Province and its prospects for the near term. The advanced technology sector is
small but growing rapidly. Its importance is underscored by its current
contribution to employment and income, as well as its contribution to other
sectors of the economy, e.g., efficiency gains, new markets, etc., often termed
its "enabling effect".
Innovative Technologies encompasses many areas. It is generally defined as organizations developing and/or commercializing technologically oriented products and/or services. The sector as a whole has experienced considerable growth, particularly over the past 10 years or so. There are about 430 firms in the advanced technology sector, employing about 6,400 people and generating annual revenues of about $470 million – a major contributor to the Provincial economy.
What follows are highlights of the sector – major hardware providers and manufacturers, software developers and service providers, firms involved in innovative activities, an overview of the Internet, a discussion of the major value adding electronic networks currently operating in this Province, and a review of the Province's Information Technology Action Plan. This discussion is not an exhaustive examination of this area as there are numerous firms and activities which have not been covered because of time constraints.
The sector has significant potential. In Canada, for instance, between 1986 and 1993, conventional businesses grew at a rate of 1.3 percent per year. Knowledge-based industries grew at a dramatic rate of 16 percent per year. Existing technology and the pace with which technological developments are being made are certainly impacting the way people communicate with one another, how resources are developed, and how countries interact with one another. In the information age, geography and proximity to markets are, to some degree, becoming less relevant through the use of computers, satellites and other telecommunication devices.
In the Province, advanced technology based firms have also recorded strong growth both in terms of revenues and employment, particularly over the past 10 years or so. The advanced technology sector, armed with a consultative Information Technology Action Plan, considerable research and development expertise, and the support of a vibrant business community, appears poised to capture more of the growing market for knowledge-based products and services.
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Introduction
Information Technology is growing in terms of its importance in the "New Economy". In recognition of the need to foster and support this area, Government announced in March 1995 the establishment of a joint industry/government Task Force. Its mandate: to prepare an Action Plan for Operation ONLINE (Opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador In the New Economy) - the Provincial Information Technology (IT) strategy. It is anticipated that the success of this strategy will be realized through investment in the Information Technology industry, human capital development, and the formation of strategic partnerships with business and markets to develop new opportunities. An Action Plan was presented to Government in September 1995.
By building on the Province's inherent strengths in areas such as marine communications and technologies, telecommunications and cable network infrastructures, and distance services such as education and rural networking, the Action Plan assumes that the IT sector could, among other things, grow in the future to include:
The Vision
The Action Plan contains 20 detailed action items which can be categorized into six key areas:
| ....meet the requirement for IT skills and capabilities for people by linking the education and training system to the needs of industry and individuals.... |
1. Building our Human Resources
In the short-term, this involves defining and quantifying the IT industry and its participants. It also involves identifying existing skills and capabilities so that individual and industry strengths and weaknesses can be recognized and addressed. This will be achieved in part through the continued re-focusing of the post-secondary system to ensure educational and training needs are met. Also, the continued commitment to IT literacy for students and teachers in the secondary system will have a long term impact on the IT industry in particular and the economy as a whole.
2. Networking 2000
Networking 2000 will facilitate the building of the infrastructure elements, e.g., high capacity digital networks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to allow for the development of new IT products and services to be marketed elsewhere. Collaboration and cooperation by value-adding network providers will enable increased distribution of and access to services throughout the Province and reduced expenditures on any identified excess infrastructure.
| ....remove obstacles to small and medium sized IT enterprises such as the lack of IT management experience; the lack of access to large local IT purchasers; the lack of information on partnering and alliance building; and insufficient communications regarding tax and regulatory regimes.... |
3. Building the IT Industry
Action items address several areas which will encourage the start-up and growth of IT SMEs including: access to Venture Capital; access to mentoring services; IT tax incentives; partnering and alliance tools; and, access to assessment mechanisms and supplier development initiatives of large local buyers.
4. Applications Development and Adoption
As an "enabler", the full impact of information technology as an economic engine can only be realized when it is applied in all sectors of the economy. Recognizing that limited financial resources are available, this initiative is designed to accelerate IT applications development and adoption in four key areas. They are Health Information Systems, Information Seaway (IT in the marine environment), Software Development and Content, and IT Research and Development.
| ....improve communication among the stakeholders and IT markets so that the image and positioning of the industry and the Province are favourable and conducive to increased business opportunities.... |
5. Communication with our Stakeholders and Markets
An international campaign will be launched to enhance the Province's image with respect to IT and to market our strengths to potential global clients. Support services will be provided to respond to the inquiries generated by the campaign and field initial business contacts. Measures will be taken on both a local and international scale which will facilitate increased usage and adoption of products and services developed within Newfoundland and Labrador.
6. Government as a Model User
Government can have a significant developmental impact through the adoption and use of local IT industry products and services. Aside from the direct impacts on the effectiveness and efficiency of Government, the provision of Government services using IT will provide tangible beneficial examples for other major organizations.
Conclusion
The Action Plan presented to Government has recently received approval from Cabinet and initial steps have been taken towards its implementation. Work has begun to transform the Operation ONLINE Task Force into a Board of Directors and, as with the preparation of the plan, the five year implementation will be driven through private-public partnerships. Performance agreements among Government and the implementation partners will be developed to ensure that the objectives of the plan will be met, and measures of progress will be used to determine its overall effectiveness.
It is expected that the Provincial IT sector will continue to grow in 1996 and beyond. Whether this will be moderate or rapid growth will depend on many factors including the rate of opportunity identification and market growth and development.
The completion of a fibre optic based transmission system across the Province and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 1993 gave this Province access to a quality, high capacity digital telecommunications system linked to the world. Already, communication traffic on this system has increased substantially reflecting the growth of information-dependent users in this Province. By June, the Company will have completed the construction of a second fibre optic route (HDR2) across the Island and a second fibre optic submarine link to the Canadian network.
The type of technology being employed in this network is often referred to as a broadband system. One of the advantages of this system is its capacity to carry increased and more complex communications traffic. This increased capacity, combined with new switching technology, will make possible the delivery of multimedia, data, video and voice services that are synonymous with services expected of the information highway. These technologies are "economic enablers", in that they give business and people full access to new information technology services and permit participation in this growing sector.
The dual structure (second fibre optic link) of the backbone network will ensure security of service especially to companies with vital data requirements such as call centres, banks, transportation companies, and so on. In the event of a fibre or switching failure, the dual component of fibre backbone ensures service will have a back-up, alternative route thus ensuring smooth, uninterrupted service. In addition to security of transmission, the advanced system is able to handle many more calls than existing technology, thereby improving the capacity of the system tremendously.
Since much of HDR2 is routed along the coast of Newfoundland many smaller communities will benefit from regional connections or "on ramps" to the backbone network. To this end, the Company will begin work on a fibre-optic "feeder route" transversing the Northern Peninsula of the Island this year. Many other rural areas of the Province, because of close proximity to the new system, will become connected to the fibre backbone this year as well.
The completion of the second fibre optic route will coincide this year with the commencement of Network Newfoundland and Labrador. This public/private partnership will permit one-stop shopping for prospective call centre operators in the Province through the provision of advanced telecommunication infrastructure and technical expertise. The organization will also promote the Province as an ideal location for call centre operations.
Formed in the late 1970s to bring cable television service to the Province, Cable Atlantic has become a major player in the local telecommunications and information technology sector. The Company provides cable TV service to 75,000 households in 13 service areas throughout the Province. Beginning in 1995, Cable Atlantic embarked upon a very ambitious investment program designed to position the Company for future market opportunities in the information technology area. This began with the construction of a two-way, high speed hybrid-fibre-coaxial (HFC) network. This network utilizes fibre-optics for the backbone of the network and uses conventional co-axial cable to serve individual neighbourhoods. With these changes, the new network will be a platform for enhanced cable service today with the capacity to be the system through which future communications and network services are offered. Over the next three years, Cable Atlantic will be expanding this network from the St. John's Area to its other major locations in central and western Newfoundland.
Presently, the Company provides a wide range of services to its customers. With the installation of the HFC network, the potential to offer new services will increase as well. Cable Atlantic will have the capacity to deliver hundreds of television channels and a wide variety of new entertainment services. Secondly, the network's two-way capability will enable it to deliver interactive services such as personal communications services (PCS), home shopping, home banking and applications for telework and telecommuting.Thirdly, the HFC network will help the business, education and institutional communities by providing access to a fast, high volume telecommunications network which will deliver high speed data services at economical rates.
As of December 1995, Cable Atlantic began providing several new information technology services to commercial customers in Newfoundland. These include:
In the very near future, the Company will be offering high speed Internet access to its residential customers. The service will operate at speeds up to 500 times faster than transmission over existing technology. This will give current users and potential users access to existing and innovative future Internet services.
By combining the high capacity of a fibre optic network with the cost-effectiveness of a conventional coaxial system, Cable Atlantic is breaking new ground in the Province. The new network will not only satisfy current telecommunications needs but will also provide tremendous potential for the future. This infrastructure will ensure individuals and organizations have access to a high speed communications network upon which exciting content can be developed and delivered.
| The Health Care Corporation of St. John's selected Cable Atlantic to design, construct and manage a fibre-optic based network to connect five hospitals in the Capital city. Initially, the network will be used to integrate and manage all information processes, such as patient records and administrative data. Later, the project will involve remote access of patient information, including transmission of X-ray and MRI images, as well as remote patient diagnoses. This network will enable the Health Care Corporation to more efficiently and effectively deliver health care services. |
Value adding electronic networks are information based services delivered to clients using telecommunications technology. The information, commonly referred to as content, is considered the core product or service of these networks. Operating in the Province today are a number of highly sophisticated publicly sponsored networks delivering value adding information services. In the information age, the value of these networks, in terms of business and economic development and the betterment of society as a whole, runs parallel to the need for other public infrastructure such as roads and bridges. An outline containing the mandate and capability of the biggest networks currently in place can be found in the table below.
| The need for continuous improvement in the delivery of information via electronic networks gave rise to a recommendation, through the Operation ONLINE Action Plan, to engage public sector networks to join forces and develop an integrated approach to service delivery. To implement this recommendation, Operation ONLINE initiated a collaborative process which saw representatives meet to discuss approaches and mechanisms to obtain cooperation and advancement. There was unanimous agreement from the participants that this was indeed desirable and achievable. |
During the development of the Province's Action Plan in the area of IT, it became clear that the Province has accumulated a significant critical pool of expertise in tele-health and tele-learning, business and economic development as well as educational networking. These capabilities are for the most part the result of innovation and investment by electronic (value adding) network providers. One of the most important functions of these networks is the capability to deliver information extensively and simultaneously into rural and remote areas. Therefore, these networks enable public sector service providers, such as the education and health care sector, to deliver services in a more effective and efficient manner. These networks are also enablers of business and economic development as they allow individuals and businesses to access quality information independent of geographic location.
| NAME | MANDATE | CAPABILITY |
| TETRA Telelmedicine and Educational Technology Resources Agency Network | Telecommunications integrator and support service provider. Medical data transfer. Teleconferencing development. | Distance education and telemedicine services with over 9,000 hours of programming. Instructional design and development of medical programs. |
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ENI Enterprise Network Inc. | Provide business and economic development services throughout the Province with emphasis on rural areas. | Business Development Information, Economic Zone Support, Business Opportunities Database, Directories, Business Resource Library |
| NLnet Newfoundland and Labrador Network | Provide educational internet service. | Access to the Internet. |
| STEM-net Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics Network | Provide professional development content for educators and students. | Professional development material, educational (resources and reference) material K-12. |
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CIRC Community Information Resource Council | General information dissemination through provincial library system. | Information delivery and internet access for general public. |
| OLIN Open Learning and Information Network | Delivers open learning courses and programs. | Broker open learning courses from content providers, mostly universities and colleges. |
Considerable public sector investment has led to the creation of this unique capability in the Province that requires support to remain on the leading edge of development. These networks, like transportation infrastructure in the established economy, are enablers in the "new economy", giving service providers, entrepreneurs, and innovators access to the best and latest technology and information necessary to compete and deliver public services in an efficient manner. This in turn, helps to reduce costs, facilitates the efficient delivery of public services, aids skills development, reduces barriers to new business start-ups and expansion, and fosters the creation of new wealth.
The Internet is a wide range of people and organizations working together to interconnect computers, thereby enabling information exchange. The power and versatility of the Internet lies mainly in its construction. Unlike many networks with one central computer and a static communications path, the Internet is a collection of interconnected computers and networks resembling a web. The Internet, therefore, offers a multitude of ways for moving data from point a to point b. This innovation along with others evolved from the Internet's early development within the U.S. military. The system was originally designed to ensure the safe transmission of data under threatening circumstances. Its users required a network that could function even if major parts of it were destroyed.
In addition to the military, the Internet, as it is known today, also owes its existence and development to education and research institutes. In almost all of its 25 year life, it has grown as a peer-managed education and research communication tool with no substantive control point. Contributors freely developed and made available information for public use largely because connectivity was enabled through cooperation between organizations. For years growth was moderate and its uses were primarily for e-mail and file transfers. Commercial applications were discouraged.
Innovations on The Internet
Beginning around 1993 all this changed. New software and methods for connecting documents allowed pictures, sound and video, to be transferred and obtained over the Internet simply by pointing and clicking a mouse. With this change, the Internet was transformed into a new medium, similar to publishing and broadcasting but with a new twist: interactivity. This multimedia side of the Internet, the world wide web, helped to revolutionize uses for the Internet.
The Internet today, however, remains largely a self-governing organization, although major segments of the network are now privately owned and operated. The network continues to undergo accelerated change on a number of fronts. For example, the number of Internet users has grown substantially (about 20 million worldwide), the availability of information has ballooned, new software applications geared to the Internet are being developed daily and the volume of information being transmitted has grown exponentially. In 1995, the volume of information on the Internet in Canada alone doubled in less than six months.
The Internet in Newfoundland and Labrador
NLnet, the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Newfoundland and Labrador, has provided Internet access since 1990. NLnet established an Internet style network in this province to take advantage of the launching of Canada's national network CAnet. CAnet provides access to regional networks across the Country in all provinces and territories. The six founding members of NLnet - Cabot College of Applied Arts and Technology, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Forestry Canada, The Institute of Fisheries and Marine Technology, the Institute of Marine Dynamics and Memorial University of Newfoundland - created a loose umbrella association to operate a regional network as part of the CAnet. Memorial University has, until now, been the sole operator and manager of NLnet.
| In order to increase rural community access to the Internet, as well as develop the skills to use it effectively, Industry Canada has developed the Community Access Program. In the Province 17 communities will be plugged into the Internet via this program in 1996. The Program will be active until March 31, 1998. |
Currently, there are approximately 10 ISPs in the Province. It is estimated that these ISPs give access to as many as 60,000 Internet users in the Province. The Internet has much to offer the Province. Not only is it a tremendous source of information, it allows individuals and firms an improved medium for global interactvity. For example, a photojournalist in the Province uses the Internet to transfer digital images of his work to major news agencies around the world. In this the information age, communication tools like the Internet make geography and proximity less relevant. The new era of interconnectivity and interactivity also present numerous business opportunities. Many feel that one of the Province's comparative advantages via the Internet lies in providing content. The future expansion and development of this aspect of the Internet will enable firms and individuals to use their creative and technical expertise to market products and services in a global medium.
Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and affiliated organizations account for a substantial amount of research and development (R & D) in the Atlantic region. MUN is the largest university east of Montreal and well situated to further develop its R & D capability and centres of excellence in marine related technology and ocean sciences. Several of the innovative technological developments discussed throughout this document have been enhanced and supported by the presence of this core group of expertise. The following represent some of the key players:
In addition to the research and development work occurring at MUN, there are several other organizations on the University campus that are working in the R & D area. One of the most notable is the Institute of Marine Dynamics (IMD), a branch of the National Research Council of Canada. The Institute was established in St. John's in 1985 as Canada's primary centre for ocean technology research and development. It collaborates with industry, government and universities to anticipate and respond to challenges and opportunities with innovative solutions in areas of ocean technology. IMD's capacity is unique in Canada – no other organization offers the equivalent expertise and world-class research facilities. Areas of research include: ship stability and maneuvering; offshore structure dynamics; ice structure interactions; underwater systems; and safety systems. IMD has made considerable investment in facilities which are used to simulate realistic ocean environments. These facilities include:
NewTel Information Solutions Ltd.
NewTel Information Solutions Limited (NIS) was formed on October 13, 1994 when NewTel Enterprises Limited and its partners, Andersen Consulting and Bell Sygma, bought the former Government-owned Newfoundland and Labrador Computer Services. NIS is the largest information technology (IT) based company in Atlantic Canada and ranks eighth in size among IT professional services companies in Canada.
NIS occupies the unique position of being a relatively new company propelled by the energy and enthusiasm that is generated by change, and the confidence and expertise that comes from over a quarter of a century of IT experience. The Company provides innovative solutions to all clients – business as well as government.
The Company is currently working on several exciting projects. One of these is a comprehensive student administration system for Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). New services (billing and access to grades) have recently been added to the existing system. Students can now register, pay fees and check grades through a fully automated and efficient dial-up service. As a result of this work, MUN is the only university in the Country offering such comprehensive automated dial-up service. Additional components will be added to the system this spring.
Another project recently completed utilizing the services of this company was the construction and implementation of the new photo identification system for the Department of Works, Services and Transportation. This system allowed the Department to introduce the latest in ID methods while reducing wait times and inconvenience for drivers in the Province.
A work-in-progress project for the Company is the Tourism Destination Management System (TDMS) designed especially for tourism marketing and reservations. TDMS is a sophisticated system providing a leading edge solution to the tourism sector. It allows the client to search and obtain all the necessary information and execute tasks, e.g., book reservations and accommodations – essentially "closing the sale", all with the "click of a mouse". Perhaps the biggest advantage from a marketing perspective is that the system makes it much easier for prospective tourists to obtain information on the Provincial tourism product through one convenient number.
NIS has also entered into several partnering agreements with local IT firms. These initiatives help smaller, specialized firms offer a comprehensive IT solution to prospective clients while gaining technical know-how and expertise in this area.
Compusult Limited
The physical forces of nature, particularly in the North Atlantic, have always had a significant impact on the way in which people interact with the environment. Compusult Limited, a major software developer in the Province, has helped to guide people's activities in this regard by directing its efforts primarily towards the development and construction of an environmental data management and geographic information systems.
The Company's flagship product, the Compusult Integrated Data Access System (CIDAS), is an interactive environmental data warehousing system. CIDAS arose from a need to better manage environmental data. Until now, data were typically maintained in a variety of formats, on different computer systems and in manual archives. CIDAS offers the means to consolidate data into a single repository which supports all required information management, cataloguing, retrieval, analysis and dissemination functions. The application serves corporate and government agencies that need to effectively maintain and distribute a variety of environmental data of different types and formats. As well, CIDAS incorporates a database management system with linkages to commercial geographic information systems. It accepts and delivers data in various formats from local and remote systems. Using the World Wide Web and other graphical interfaces, users can query across all data collections to identify the available information for a given time period, geographic area and specific ranges of parameters. This provides a very powerful means of combining and extracting different types of information for site monitoring, data analysis and data dissemination.
Thus far, CIDAS has been installed in Environment Canada's Ice Centre, five Canadian Hydrographic Service offices, the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Nautical Data International Inc. and the Alliance for Marine Remote Sensing.
Although a significant share of Compusult's focus is directed towards the further development of CIDAS, the Company is now marketing the product worldwide, with the option to tailor the program to suit particular clients needs.
Nautical Data International, Inc.
Nautical Data International, Inc. (NDI) produces digital maps and charts and distributes them to a variety of customers worldwide. NDI is also active in the development and international marketing of software relating to the production, maintenance and distribution of very large geospatial databases. Currently, their products are used in navigation, fisheries management, marine simulation, environmental planning and hydrodynamics.
The Company's expertise and track record in these areas recently resulted in the signing of two international contracts. NDI will train Chilean personnel in chart production and in data management. Some of the people providing training are former fisheries workers. A second contract, signed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), will see NDI work with the Cuban Hydrographic Institute to determine the feasibility of setting up a joint venture in the area of digital charting.
NDI has stated that work already completed on the Cuban project is opening up other opportunities in that part of the world and that they are following leads in Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Trinidad.
NewTech Instruments Limited
NewTech, a member of the NewTel group of companies, is a design and manufacturing firm providing quality electronic and electromechanical products and services. It manufactures a range of products of its own design, as well as build-to-print designs under contract and licence, for marine, defense and electronic industries.
NewTech manufactures Driver Instrument Panels, Alarm Annunciator Panels, and Auxiliary Drivers Panels. The Alarm Annunciator Panel and the Auxiliary Drivers Panel are of NewTech's own design. In addition, NewTech designs and manufactures Printed Circuit Boards, Wiring Harnesses, and Cable Assemblies.
Other products manufactured include: marine safety lights; refurbishment of an extensive range of telephone and telecommunications equipment; various wiring harnesses, cable assemblies, and panel assemblies used in the telecommunications industry; and other electronic and electromechanical products.
Northern Radar Systems Limited
Northern Radar Systems Limited has forged ahead with the development of a state-of-the-art High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HF-SWR) system capable of maintaining surveillance over 200,000 square kilometres of coastal area.
In the High Frequency band employed by HF-SWR, radio waves propagate along the highly conductive ocean surface. This allows Northern Radar's system to detect and track targets far beyond the horizon, so that a shore based station can provide surveillance well past the 200 mile economic zone boundary.
Having suitable and sufficient R & D capability in the Province has certainly underscored the story of this technology. The basic HF-SWR technology evolved from 13 years of research and development efforts by Memorial University of Newfoundland through C-CORE and the Faculty of Engineering. A prototype system at Cape Race, Newfoundland was commissioned in the fall of 1990 following two years of construction and has been operational ever since. The prototype has allowed Northern Radar to successfully carry out several contracts for government and industrial clients which demonstrate the potential of the technology in coastal surveillance and environmental monitoring. The experience gained with the prototype system has also shown the upgrade path to achieving a fully commercial system.
The commercial potential of the technology is significant. Northern Radar, in partnership with Raytheon Canada of Waterloo, Ontario (a well established electronics manufacturer) and another dynamic local company, NewEast Wireless Technologies, recently signed an agreement with the Department of National Defense to demonstrate and use the technology for coastline monitoring at a cost of $8.9 million. The federal government is contributing $5.8 million to the project.
Two radar sites will be established at Cape Bonavista and Cape Race, Newfoundland in early 1997. These sites will overlook the Grand Banks, an area which received considerable international exposure during the jurisdictional fishing disputes in 1995. The new technology can detect ships and low flying aircraft as far as 250 nautical miles from shore. Currently, the only surveillance of these areas is by ship, submarine and aircraft patrols. Potential markets for this technology are considerable.
NewEast Wireless Technologies Ltd.
NewEast Wireless Technologies Ltd. (NWTL) is a large, vertically integrated communications company in business for over 10 years. Through its subsidiaries, NewEast Wireless Telecom Ltd., and Ultimateast Data Communications, the Company markets wireless communications services throughout the world utilizing both satellite and high frequency (HF) technology. Several satisfied customers within the government, mining, fishing, marine and transport markets have been able to improve their operations through the use of NWTL satcoms systems solutions. 24-hour dedicated customer support along with a team of knowledgeable product and applications experts have helped NWTL grow into one of Canada's largest wireless telecommunications providers.
The Company had its beginning doing wireless telecommunications work for the Newfoundland fishing industry. From these humble beginnings, it went on to grow substantially and develop several niche markets, particularly in data communications and fleet management. Its systems can be used in conjunction with private HF networks, as well as satellite networks such as MSAT and Inmarsat.
Although the Company is primarily export focused, it also competes for local contracts. NWTL secured the contract to provide a total communications solution for the Gravity Base Structure (GBS) for Hibernia. Ultimateast has completed all the engineering, procurement and commissioning for these systems, including satellite, HF and VHF (Very High Frequency) radio communications for both voice and data. NewEast Wireless Telecom operated Canada's largest commercial HF contract station in Canada at Tors Cove and it is currently the largest supplier of Inmarsat services in Canada.
Many of the products designed and marketed by NWTL have received considerable international attention. Its equipment has been highly praised and recommended for its ability to overcome some of the common problems encountered when using wireless technology for transmitting data, such as channel noise, fading, frequency drift and best-channel selection. The Company has completed many projects earning it the distinction as one of the key global players in the wireless communications field. The Company has, for example constructed a highly reliable and cost effective helicopter flight tracking system. The system has been used by the United Nations peace keeping force in Cambodia, as well as in other areas of remote operations such as the oil and gas industry and in Canada's Far North.
Future prospects for this company are very good. Years of experience as an equipment vendor, service provider, and application developer uniquely qualifies NWTL as a true one-stop-shopping organization for wireless communication solutions. A recent cooperative undertaking with a national communications company, Teleglobe Canada, will serve to crystallize NWTL's position as a world player in wireless communications.