Star Solutions delivers LTE and GSM “last mile” technology for mobile broadband services

Richmond, Canada. October 26, 2016 – SSi Micro Ltd., the premier communications services provider in Northern Canada, has chosen Star Solutions of British Columbia to supply its new 4G LTE Data and GSM Voice network infrastructure. Using the latest wireless technology, SSi will help bridge the digital divide between the North and the south of Canada by enabling new communications services for consumers, business and government, including high performance broadband, mobile voice and data, telemetry applications, video conferencing, and more.

SSi delivers communications services across a satellite backbone, which provides a unique challenge for the real-time and large capacity applications required with mobile 4G broadband. By leveraging the Star Solutions virtualized packet core in conjunction with our own software, over a distributed network, SSi benefits from reduced operational costs, increased network performance and better network resiliency.

The introduction of new 4G-LTE and GSM network technologies was made possible though SSi’s ongoing $75 million investment in Nunavut’s broadband future, first announced in September of 2015. The investments include $35 million from the Government of Canada’s Connecting Canadians program for the purchase of satellite capacity, while SSi is spending some $40 million for added capacity and network upgrades to bring next generation 4G-LTE and GSM services to all 25 communities in Nunavut under the QINIQ brand name.

After lengthy preparation, including numerous site visits for installation and testing of the 4G-LTE and GSM infrastructure, the new network was first launched in nine Nunavut communities in April of this year. Over the past months a team of QINIQ “First Connectors”, customers who have volunteered to be early adopters, have evaluated the network and provided valuable performance feedback. They are very pleased with the performance, and thousands more customers across the territory are now being introduced to and benefitting from the new technology.

“SSi is very pleased with the Star Solutions technology, and I am really proud of the work our team has done. Our customers will finally have much needed mobile 4G-LTE and GSM services in every community”, said Jeff Philipp, Founder and CEO of SSi. “It’s a very exciting time for us. Our unique hybrid network architecture and advanced service provisioning and management are state-of-the-art and, as far as we know, the only system of its kind anywhere. We are thrilled that Star Solutions and their expertise can be a big part of that. ”

Jack Mar, CEO of Star Solutions says: “We are thrilled to be a solutions partner with SSi Micro in realizing their vision of extending cellular and high speed broadband services in the Northern communities. As a Canadian company, we are pleased to see our systems at work in our own backyard. A truly Canadian partnership!”

About SSi Micro

Headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and with a satellite teleport and network operations centre in Ottawa, SSi designs, builds and operates telecommunications networks around the world. SSi understands first-hand the challenges faced in providing effective and affordable communications services to remote and outlying areas.

SSi’s history in Nunavut dates back two decades, when the company built its first satellite network linking the five communities of the Kitikmeot region. Ten years ago, SSi was the first company to launch broadband service in all 25 Nunavut communities, offering an equal level of service and pricing to Nunavummiut across the Territory. Over the years SSi has continued to develop its own unique provisioning and billing software, and today the 3rd generation of this management system seamlessly controls all aspects of the customer experience.

About Star Solutions International Inc.

Star Solutions is a leading supplier of mobile network infrastructure solutions with special focus on Rural/Remote, Enterprise and Rapid Deployment/Disaster Recovery applications. Star Solutions’ experience includes rural deployments in over 30 countries; majority of the cruise ships worldwide; private Enterprise mobile network for Mines, Oil & Gas and Prisons; Rapid deployment systems for disaster relief, military and emergency public safety communications.