JUNE 20, 2008

The Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is investing in the wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of British Columbia to develop a new wireless technology facility and accelerate wireless industry growth in B.C.

Federal funding of $1 million was announced today by Russ Hiebert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Western Economic Diversification, and Member of Parliament for South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale.

"The Government of Canada is promoting innovation through technology development and commercialization of new products," said MP Hiebert, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "This facility will help to grow British Columbia's emerging wireless sector and to bring Canada to the forefront in wireless technology."

Funding will allow the wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of British Columbia to establish a new wireless technology testing, business development and commercialization facility in Burnaby. The project will fund the acquisition and installation of leading edge testing equipment as well as marketing and staffing needs.

The new facility will be designed to accommodate different sub-sectors of the wireless industry, from small and medium sized enterprises to large wireless operators. Additionally, the facility will collaborate with academic institutions and other wireless testing facilities in Canada.

"With this investment, wavefront will be able to accelerate the capacity of British Columbia's wireless and new media developer companies to increase the probability of commercial success. wavefront plans to build a full-service testing and commercialization centre providing emerging companies with a suite of development, advisory and testing/accreditation services that facilitate commercial engagement with global wireless carriers and enterprise companies," says James Maynard, President, wavefront.

Currently headquartered at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, the wavefront Wireless Innovation Society of British Columbia is a not-for-profit society that aims to grow the knowledge-based business sector in Western Canada.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.