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 Government Solutions operates under the trade name Telesat U.S. Services, LLC (dba Telesat Government Solutions).
Telesat’s initial projected Lightspeed program cost was $5,000,000,000 and inflationary pressures are increasing that projected cost.
Telesat delayed Lightspeed’s service debut by one year to 2026 due to production delays.
Telesat is considering initially ordering 188 satellites to reach global coverage instead of ordering the full original complement.
Telesat gained the security clearances it needs to sell directly to U.S. government customers on 2022-04-04.
Telesat has a study contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Blackjack program that involves two spacecraft slated to launch in October to low Earth orbit at roughly the same altitude as Telesat’s planned Lightspeed network.
Telesat announced separate 2019 contracts with Blue Origin and Relativity Space for an unspecified number of New Glenn and Terran 1 launches for Lightspeed.
Telesat Government Solutions began the Facility Clearance process with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency in August 2020.
Isotropic Systems’ multi-link terminal tracked and passed bi-directional traffic to Telesat’s Phase 1 Low Earth Orbit satellite while simultaneously connected to a Geostationary Earth Orbit satellite link.
Isotropic Systems completed live over-the-air field tests with Telesat at the Allan Park Teleport in Ontario, Canada on 22 March 2022.
Cobham SATCOM selected Communications & Power Industries (CPI) to provide Ka-band amplifiers for the gateway tracking antenna systems that Cobham will supply for the Telesat Lightspeed Landing Station Terminals.
Nine founding members of Space Canada include Calian, GHGSat, Magellan Aerospace, Maritime Launch Services, MDA, Mission Control, NorthStar Earth & Space, SpaceBridge, and Telesat.
Dan Goldberg, CEO of Telesat, chairs the inaugural Board of Directors of Space Canada.
Telesat selected Thales Alenia Space of France and Italy in February 2021 as prime contractor for the 298-satellite Lightspeed constellation.
Telesat announced separate 2019 contracts with Blue Origin and Relativity Space for an unspecified number of New Glenn and Terran 1 launches for Lightspeed.
Telesat received commitments for about two-thirds of the Lightspeed network’s projected $5,000,000,000 cost, including about $1,150,000,000 from the Canadian government.
Telesat planned to supplement the initial 188 satellites with another 110 satellites to reach the full 298-satellite Lightspeed constellation.
Telesat reported 758 million Canadian dollars in revenues for 2021, equal to $602,000,000.
Telesat’s net income for 2021 was 158 million Canadian dollars compared with 246 million Canadian dollars for 2020.
Telesat expected to begin launching Lightspeed in 2025 and to enter global commercial service in 2026 if program timelines unfolded as anticipated.