Canadian Commercially Owned, Commercially Operated (COCO) Space Services Poised to Support Modernized Defence Procurement​

Accelerating Defence Modernization with Canadian Commercial Innovation

Ottawa, Canada – Nov 18 – As Canada accelerates efforts to modernize defence capabilities, Commercially Owned, Commercially Operated (COCO) space services are emerging as a strategic enabler for government missions requiring agility, resilience, and rapid technological refresh.​ ​

COCO services — designed, owned, and operated by Canadian industry — provide government and defence partners with reliable access to critical space-based capabilities such as space domain awareness, Earth observation, communications, and data analytics. By leveraging private-sector investment and commercial innovation cycles, COCO approaches deliver faster capability delivery, predictable cost structures, and enhanced operational flexibility.​ ​

Ongoing updates to federal defence procurement practices emphasize speed, interoperability, and greater collaboration with Canadian industry. Within this context, COCO models align with Canada’s goals to streamline acquisition, reduce lifecycle risk, and ensure mission-readiness in an increasingly contested and congested space environment.​ ​

“Canada’s commercial space sector is uniquely positioned to deliver sovereign capabilities at commercial tempo,” says our CEO Stewart Bain, “COCO services give government users persistent access to high-value space data and operations, without requiring long acquisition timelines or significant upfront capital investment.”​ ​

By integrating COCO offerings into future procurement strategies, Canada can strengthen its domestic industrial base while ensuring decision-makers, operators, and mission partners have timely, secure, and scalable access to space-derived information.​ ​

The NorthStar team is heading to #spacebound2025 to have important conversations on how to advance Canada’s space sovereignty and security.​ ​

Our CEO, Stewart Bain, will be joining fellow colleagues Mina Mitry, CEO of KEPLER Communications, Mary Preville, CFN consultants, and Scott McCrady of Magellan Aerospace to participate on the panel moderated by David Perry, Canadian Global Affairs Institute:​ ​

“From Commitment to Capability: Reforming Procurement to Deliver on Canada’s NATO Commitments” November 19th at 9AM in Ottawa.

Media Contacts:

NorthStar Earth & Space S.à r.l.
Email: media@northstar-data.com
Website: https://northstar-data.com