Telesat takes e-commerce to the high seas

These applications include improved Internet access, distance education, banking services, remote data collection and tele-tourism. The marine e-commerce applications (MeCA) project aims to provide marine operators with a suite of e-commerce applications that are flexible and easy to manage for vessels of various types and sizes. Telesat will provide the core Ku-band satellite platform on its Anik E2-R satellite, implement the required hub facilities and train support employees. The MeCA project has completed the pilot system validation and continues to implement services onboard remaining test fleet vessels. A total of five vessels, three from Marine Atlantic (MV Joseph and Clara Smallwood, MV Caribou and MV Leif Erricson) and two from the Woodward Group (MV Robert Bond and MV Northern Ranger) will test the model in the Northern and Eastern Canadian waters. Funded partially by the Canadian and European Space Agencies, the MeCA project is a partnership between Telesat, Collaborative Network Technologies Inc., Marine Atlantic, Woodward Group of Companies, Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and SmartLabrador. The pilot testing of this satellite e-commerce system under the MeCA project will assist the partners in determining the potential for its commercialization in the future.