Our Story

Network Innovations has an over 30 year history

Our Past

Founded in 1989, Network Innovations began by providing traditional terrestrial communications but quickly realised the growing need for always-available satellite connectivity. From the outset, we closely aligned ourselves with important manufacturers and satellite operators, creating strong industry partnerships that allowed us to push the boundaries of ground and satellite communications at the time — including being the first to video broadcast from 8,000 feet.

In 2002, we began work with the Canadian government to provide welfare and morale services for Canadian troops in Afghanistan, giving soldiers more privacy and time to connect with their families.  As the strength of our team and services became evident to many of the Coalition allies, our presence in Afghanistan grew to support not only the morale and welfare but also the operational needs of many NATO forces operating in theatre.

Back home in Canada, we developed a robust mobile satellite presence and started creating our own engineered products to meet gaps in capabilities of third-party systems that prevented us from delivering a complete solution.  The success of NI in Afghanistan led to an international expansion that involved a number of strategic acquisitions and new office start-ups.

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Our Present

Today, the demand for greater interoperability, automation, remote control, integrated real-time data networks, and cost efficiencies is accelerating.

In response, Network Innovations continues our history of leading the critical communications industry through the building out a complete set of technologies and field service capabilities that go well beyond the communications focused needs of customers.

Not resting on our history, we continue to aggressively invest in maintaining our market leadership within North America while growing our reach and presence in Europe, Africa, the Pacific Rim, and Australia.  With over 200 of the industry’s finest professionals located in 15 offices on five continents, NI has the experience and resources to Succeed. Anywhere. regardless of their mission.

Our subsidiaries include Network Innovations U.S. Government, a rapidly growing provider of innovative and reliable communications to various U.S. Government departments and agencies; Fusion Marine, the premiere marine electronics and electrical services partner serving the commercial maritime industry in the U.S.; and Field Intell, a leading supplier of IoT solutions for remote monitoring and control serving clients in oil and gas, mining, utilities, and agriculture.

Our Future

Thirty years is just the beginning. We have been around long enough to know sustainable growth hinges on the strength of our partnerships, listening to our customers, and adapting to change.

As businesses and governments embrace digital transformation within their own enterprises to create more value for their customers through new operating models, Network Innovations will be there, working alongside and itself evolving, enabling our customers to Succeed. Anywhere.

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Timeline

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1989

Founded

Founded 1989 in Calgary, Canada

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1996

Mobile Satellite

NI supplements network division with Mobile Satellite

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1996

Thrane & Thrane

NI becomes Thrane & Thrane distributor and Inmarsat Airtime reseller

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1997

Mini-M Launch

NI is the first in the Western Hemisphere to launch the Thrane & Thrane Mini-M at the Vancouver Mining Show.

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1999

Beta Test Inmarsat GAN

NI becomes the first Inmarsat GAN partner beta testing using the "golden" reference terminal (production unit 0001)

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2000

Everest Broadcast Possible

NI sets up the first video broadcast via Inmarsat GAN (128Kbps) from 8,000m summit, Mt Everest live broadcast is possible

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2002

Phone Cards for Mini-M

NI launches first rechargeable Mini-M scratch and phone cards providing morale and welfare for Canadian troops deployed in Afghanistan

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2007

NATO Contracts

NI begins 3-year stretch winning numerous contracts with various NATO defense forces

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2008

GMPCS Joins

GMPCS (US) Joins Network Innovations (Canada)

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2009

Iridium DP

NI becomes an Iridium Distribution Partner both for Telephony and SBD

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2011

2 Connect-IT Joins

2 Connect-IT (NL) joins Network Innovations

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2011

Opens NIC4 Office

NI opens NIC4 office dedicated to support the strenuous security requirements required to support US Government communications

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2013

Singapore Office Opens

NI opens office in Singapore (Asia/PAC)

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2013

First GX VAR

NI becomes the first Inmarsat GX VAR for Enterprise, Global Government & Maritime

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2014

Year of Firsts

NI first GX live video broadcast, FX commercial installation and first GX fixed commercial clients

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2015

VSAT Service Launch

NI's MAVERICK High Availability service changed the playing field for occasional-use and multi-service VSAT Solutions

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2015

Australia Offices Open

NI opens Australia in Perth, Sydney

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2016

UK Office

NI opens new office in the UK

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2017

IDG Europe/Aero Joins

IDG Europe/Aero (Sweden) joins Network Innovations

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2017

Able Communications Joins

Able Communications (Houston) joins Network Innovations

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2018

Expands Maritime Operations

NI expands maritime operations to include service/installation with the addition of Broadband Services Now

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2018

First Iridium Certus service providers

NI announced as one of the first Iridium Certus Service Providers

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2018

Fusion Marine Technology

NI is able to provide end-to-end maritime services and support for Fusion Marine Technology

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2018

South Africa Office

NI expands to South Africa with a new office in Cape Town

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2018

Celebrates 30 Years

NI Celebrates 30 years providing innovative, leading communications solutions

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2019

Field Intelligence Joins

Field Intelligence (San Diego) joins Network Innovations

Why NI?

We Don’t Show Up with Something to Sell, We Work to Conquer Your Challenges

Experienced, Trusted, Staying on Top of Shifts in Technology, Managed to be Adaptable and for the Long-term

One Partner to Manage – Complete Range of Capabilities and Full Life Cycle Management

We Adapt to Your Needs – Pricing, Delivery, Support, Existing Infrastructure and Legacy Systems

Big Enough to Get Almost Any Job Done, Small Enough to Care

We Live Our Values