Telesat is a Canadian satellite communications company and operator, providing connectivity solutions to telecom, government, and enterprise clients globally. They are currently developing Telesat Lightspeed, a low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of 198 satellites designed for high-speed, low-latency broadband services. Telesat partners with companies like MDA Space, Orange, and Intellian for satellite manufacturing, terrestrial infrastructure, and user terminals. The company aims to begin launching satellites in 2026, with the constellation fully operational by 2027.
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Telesat will continue adding satellites funded using Telesat Lightspeed cash flow to complete the initial 198-satellite constellation.
Telesat’s own equity contribution to the Telesat Lightspeed program is approximately $1,600,000,000.
Telesat Lightspeed’s optically-linked mesh network in space will offer multi-Gbps data links, Layer 2 MEF 3.0 standards, and highly secure, resilient, low-latency broadband connectivity worldwide.
MDA Ltd. will build 198 advanced satellites for the Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit program.
The Telesat Lightspeed program’s capital investment is approximately $3,500,000,000 and includes 198 satellites, satellite launch vehicles, a global ground network of landing stations and operations centers, business and operations support systems, and development of a portfolio of user terminals.
Satellite launches for the Telesat Lightspeed program are scheduled to commence in mid-2026.
Telesat Lightspeed is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation operated by Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT).
Telesat has contracted all the launch vehicles required to complete the 198-satellite Lightspeed constellation.
The Telesat Lightspeed satellites will be built, assembled, and tested at MDA’s high-volume satellite manufacturing facilities in Montreal.
Telesat has previously announced plans to use rockets still under development by Blue Origin and Relativity Space for Lightspeed launches.
Telesat reported revenues of 180 million Canadian dollars for the three months ended 2023-06-30.
Around $1,600,000,000 of the expected $3,500,000,000 cost for 156 satellites would be funded by Telesat equity.
Telesat is due to receive nearly 350 million Canadian dollars in December from clearing C-band spectrum in the United States for terrestrial 0.005 kg carriers.
Telesat has funding commitments for 156 satellites required to provide initial polar and global services from late 2027.
Telesat expects revenues from initial enterprise and government customers to fund the additional 42 satellites needed to complete the 198-satellite constellation.
Telesat initially planned to launch 298 satellites in 2020 for commercial services starting in 2021.
Telesat’s adjusted EBITDA fell 8% to 139 million Canadian dollars for the three months ended 2023-06-30.
MDA is building 198 satellites for Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation under a contract worth 2.1 billion Canadian dollars.
Rocket Lab expected to conduct four launches in the quarter, including a rideshare mission for NASA, Spire, and Telesat that took place on 2023-07-17.
Jupiter-3 unseats Telesat’s Telstar-19 Vantage, which had a launch mass of roughly 7,076 kg, as the largest commercial communications satellite ever deployed.