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 is finalizing plans to start launching a Lightspeed constellation of nearly 300 satellites beginning in 2022.
Canada’s federal government awarded Telesat 600 million Canadian dollars in funding in November to provide subsidized broadband services to rural communities.
Telesat expects Lightspeed will start offering services in 2023.
Telesat will issue senior secured notes due 2026 around 2021-04-27 as part of a debt package funding 60% of Lightspeed’s cost.
Telesat has a contract backlog of 2.7 billion Canadian dollars that provides a predictable revenue stream over the next 12–18 months.
Moody’s Investors Service rates about $3,500,000,000 of Telesat’s debt.
Telesat plans to raise $500,000,000 with a bond to help fund its $5,000,000,000 Lightspeed broadband constellation.
Loral Space & Communications and PSP Investments are Telesat’s largest shareholders following their 2007 leveraged buyout of the company for about $3,000,000,000.
Telesat Lightspeed is planned to launch in the second half of 2023.
Analog Devices, Inc. is collaborating with MDA to deliver a beam forming integrated circuit for MDA’s phased array antenna for the Telesat Lightspeed constellation.
Telesat is seeking to start Lightspeed launches in 2022.
Telesat is not abandoning geostationary (GEO) operations and cites direct-to-home television as a market best served from GEO for a decade or more.
Telesat selected Thales Alenia Space on 2021-02-09 as the prime contractor to build the Lightspeed low Earth orbit constellation.
Telesat estimates the total cost of the Lightspeed system at $5,000,000,000.
Telesat plans to finance Lightspeed with a mix of 60% debt and 40% equity.
MDA identified supplying antenna systems for Telesat’s Lightspeed low Earth orbit broadband constellation as a flagship program that will generate $800,000,000 in revenue over several years.
Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation has an initial fleet plan of 300 satellites and options to expand to 1,600 satellites, creating a multibillion-dollar future opportunity if expanded.
SES supports the Telesat Proposal to the extent that it proposes a mechanism for fixed-satellite service (FSS) operators to receive financial compensation to accelerate clearing of existing FSS users in the 3700–4000 MHz band.
The companies will conduct integration work and interoperability tests with the Telesat Lightspeed satellite onboard processor.
Under the agreement, Telesat and SatixFy will demonstrate advanced modem designs for Landing Stations and User Terminals for Telesat Lightspeed.