UOIT professor designs satellite payload

OSHAWA, Ont. - On the evening of July 17, the world's largest and most powerful commercial communications satellite, Telesat Canada's Anik F2, was successfully launched from the Arianespace launch facilities in French Guiana. The lead researcher and principal designer of its advanced Ka-band satellite payload is Ali Grami, an associate professor in the Faculties of Engineering and Applied Science, and Business and Information Technology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), as well as a former senior advanced systems specialist at Telesat Canada.

Anik F2 makes history as the first satellite to fully commercialize the Ka frequency band-a breakthrough satellite communications technology for delivering cost-effective broadband interactive multimedia services.

"This accomplishment clearly demonstrates how Ali's engineering design and research and development work is truly of a world-class stature," said Marc Rosen, professor and dean in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at UOIT, and past president of the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. "Ali is the epitome of a faculty member with real industrial experience, combined with teaching excellence and engineering design and research expertise."

The Anik F2 Ka-band system will extend the reach of high-speed Internet services to areas un-served or under-served by terrestrial networks, all across North America (Canada's coast-to-coast-to-coast and continental United States).

"The launching of this satellite is another milestone achievement in Canada's telecommunications engineering sector," said Rosen.

In fact, the Government of Canada pledged to make this country the world's "most connected" nation, because they believe that access to broadband services are a national priority. As a result, the federal government has already planned through its $155M National Satellite Initiative to provide such services to Canada's far-north and mid-north communities.

"Telesat Canada will test the systems aboard Anik F2 for three months before making the new satellite-based, high-speed service available to consumers," said Ken Gordon, director of Broadband Technology Development Division at Telesat. Gordon commends Ali for overcoming numerous technical challenges in designing the Anik F2 broadband payload.

"He is an outstanding engineer who was truly instrumental in designing the payload. He planned and designed what we needed," he said.

Ali has a BSc from the University of Manitoba, a MEng from McGill University and a PhD from the University of Toronto, all in Electrical Engineering.

About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology

As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused undergraduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, justice studies, and education. It is also developing leading-edge research and graduate programs, and is Ontario's first laptop-based university. Sharing selected services with Durham College, UOIT welcomed its first students in September 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 1.866.844.8648.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
John Schofield
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111, ext. 2162
john.schofield@uoit.ca