California Amplifier Wins Canadian Contract

California Amplifier in Camarillo has signed an exclusive agreement with Look Communications of Canada to provide antenna down-converters for use in its wireless cable television systems in Ontario and Quebec.

Look estimates that it will need approximately 135,000 units through the end of 1999.

Look will be the first company in Ontario and Quebec to offer consumers a programming service using wireless cable. The service will offer up to 90 video channels with digital picture clarity and 30 commercial-free CD-quality audio channels, company officials said.

The Canadian Radio, Television and Telecommunications Commission awarded Look a broadcast distribution license for southern Ontario, eastern Ontario and southern Quebec. Look says it plans to achieve a 9% penetration of the area’s 6.2 million homes by 2003.

“We tested several digital receivers from various manufacturers,” said Ralph van Eppinghoven, Look’s vice president of engineering and operations. “Because of the various geographic requirements of our large license area, we need a broad range of high-quality antennas. California Amplifier was selected because of its broad product line offering and technical expertise in wireless cable solutions.”

California Amplifier designs and manufactures products used to receive microwave signals in conjunction with broadband communications.