Canada wants to bolster its military satellite communications capabilities in the Arctic with the first procurement out of the new Defence Investment Agency.

The Arctic has been a key geographic focus for Canadian defence as melting ice reveals new trading routes that place continued control over the region into question.

The nascent federal agency announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Brampton-based spacetech manufacturer MDA Space and Ottawa-based satellite firm Telesat to forward the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project – Polar (ESCP-P).

Canada has awarded a nearly $3-million contract to the firms to conduct initial engineering and options analysis work for the project, which aims to provide reliable wideband and narrowband connectivity to support domestic and continental

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