Communications Research Centre

Enabling the future of digital Canada: Government innovation to grow Canadian innovation

At the Communications Research Centre (CRC) in Ottawa, scientists are helping Canada to become the best in the world at managing spectrum, the airwaves that enable wireless innovations. CRC—a dedicated research arm of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Canada’s spectrum regulator—is the federal government’s laboratory dedicated to research and development in advanced wireless telecommunications. Researchers are pursuing some of the most progressive ideas in the world for managing spectrum, including big data, cloud analytics, artificial intelligence and state-of-the-art visualization. The focus of the research is about understanding how this critical resource is used today and finding innovative ways to use it even better.

CRC supports ISED by conducting research to meet Canada’s innovation needs so that Canadians can participate in a modern, increasingly wireless, digital economy

CRC’s research:

• enables ISED to use evidence-based information to drive policy and regulation and ensure that Canadians benefit from the use of spectrum; and
• solves critical wireless telecom issues faced by ISED and other government departments in the near term, including National Defence, Defence Research and Development Canada and Public Safety Canada.

CRC research is focused on three main areas:

• spectrum environment awareness – how technology can provide real-time dynamic spectrum knowledge to enable a more effective and sustainable management of spectrum
• making better use of spectrum – which techniques can be used to support greater wireless telecommunications with currently used spectrum, which will enable 5G deployment and applications like connected cars and the Internet of Things
• breaking the frequency barrier – how we can enable the use of higher frequency bands to address the growing demand for mobile services, increasing the supply of spectrum available by promoting the use of previously considered unsuitable spectrum for broadband mobile communications

Some highlights of CRC research include world-leading advances to improve 5G coverage, which will help make Canada a 5G leader and attract innovative companies and application development to Canada. Recognized a leader by industry and regulators around the world, CRC will help keep Canada at the forefront of the wireless digital economy by collaborating with industry, academia and other government departments.