Norsat

Norsat International Inc. is a satellite communications company based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. The company, founded in 1977, develops and produces communications technology for the transmission of data, audio and video. Norsat's primary customers are from the military, broadcast and maritime industries. In 2011, Norsat acquired Sinclair Technologies,[1] a Canadian company providing antenna and RF conditioning products.

Norsat International Inc.
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryCommunications ยท Defense
Founded1977
FounderRod Wheeler
Headquarters
Richmond, British Columbia
,
Canada
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Amiee Chan, President & CEO
Productssatellite terminals, VSAT, microwave components
Revenue US$38.0 million (2016)
Number of employees
175
ParentHytera
Websitewww.norsat.com

History

The company was founded by Rod Wheeler in 1977 in Whitehorse, Yukon under the name Northern Satellite Systems. Wheeler founded the company after attempting to build the first affordable consumer satellite dish with chicken wire and foil. This satellite dish eventually became the company's first prototype. After the company's IPO, it was renamed Norsat and Rod Wheeler became its first CEO. Norsat now produces a variety of satellite communication products and is managed by President and CEO, Dr. Amiee Chan. In 2015, Canadian Business ranked Norsat number 63 on its list of "Vancouver's Fastest-Growing Companies".[2]

Controversy

In 2017, Norsat was sold to Hytera, a Chinese telecom company with the long-standing ties to the country's Ministry of Public Security, for CAD $85 million.[3][4] The sale was flagged by the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission as raising "significant national-security concerns for the United States" and its allies.[5][6][7] In 2019, Hytera was effectively banned from doing business with U.S. government agencies due to national security concerns.[8]

Products

Norsat's products include:

  • Portable satellite terminals in C, X, Ku and Ka-band[9]
  • Network satellite systems
  • Microwave components (LNA, LNB, BUC, BDC)
  • RF Conditioning and antennas
  • Maritime satellite communication products

The company operates offices in the US, Canada, Switzerland, and the UK.

Notes
  1. "Sinclair Technologies". Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
  2. "The 2015 PROFIT 500: Vancouver's Fastest-Growing Companies". Canadian Business. September 17, 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. "Norsat sale to Hytera closes for CAD $85 million, despite controversies and contention | China-Canada Investment Tracker". www.chinainstitute.ualberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  4. Fife, Robert; Chase, Steven (July 21, 2017). "Chinese firm expelled from trade association days before takeover of Canadian high-tech company". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on August 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  5. "U.S. rebukes Canada over Chinese takeover of Norsat". The Globe and Mail. 2017-06-12. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  6. John Manthorpe (5 January 2019). Claws of the Panda: Beijing's Campaign of Influence and Intimidation in Canada. Cormorant Books. p. 217. ISBN 978-1-77086-539-6.
  7. Chase, Steve; Fife, Robert (June 8, 2017). "Liberals waive security review for Chinese takeover of high-tech firm". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  8. "U.S. formalizes ban on government contracts to Huawei, ZTE, other Chinese entities". The Japan Times. 2019-08-08. ISSN 0447-5763. Archived from the original on 2019-08-17. Retrieved 2019-08-17.
  9. "Blog". Archived from the original on 2012-05-25. Retrieved 2012-07-16.
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