Happy holidays from everyone at Telesat. This year has been defined by disciplined execution and meaningful progress as we move steadily toward the launch of Telesat Lightspeed, our next-generation Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. From major technical milestones to high-impact commercial agreements, we’re executing with precision.
We are working closely with our prime contractor, MDA Space, to stay on schedule, and the market response to date reinforces the value that Telesat Lightspeed brings to global broadband connectivity.
From design to deployment
Telesat has been conducting Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) for multiple key subsystems in the Telesat Lightspeed network. These engineering reviews are used to validate that the design meets all requirements, identify potential risks, and determine whether the element is ready to move to the next stage of development or production.
MDA Space is nearing completion of its new facility to double the capacity of the company’s high-volume satellite manufacturing in Quebec, Canada, where the Telesat Lightspeed satellites will be produced. The facility will be operational in early 2026.
Telesat is targeting the launch of two Telesat Lightspeed Pathfinder satellites in late 2026 to validate the satellite performance before broader deployment. Once successfully tested, we’ll begin a regular launch cadence to bring 156 satellites into operation by the end of 2027, with customer field trials starting earlier in the year.
Telesat’s new Technical Operations Centre in Gatineau, Quebec, is also nearing completion – employees will begin working at the facility in Q1 2026. The Technical Operations Centre will be the nerve center of Telesat Lightspeed, delivering resilient and secure global broadband connectivity through these critical facilities:
- Engineering Development Facility
- Network Operations Centre (NOC)
- Satellite Operations Centre (SOC)
- Cybersecurity Operations Centre (CSOC)
- Data Centre
- Customer Experience Centre
Landing stations that scale with demand
Robust ground infrastructure is essential to deliver on our promise of resilient, secure connectivity. Telesat and Orange signed an agreement for a Telesat Lightspeed Landing Station to be hosted at Orange’s teleport in Bercenay-en-Othe, France. This teleport will benefit from ground-segment connectivity to their point of presence (PoP) in Paris via Orange Wholesale International Private Line (IPL). Telesat has also signed a multi-year agreement with Vocus in Australia to construct and operate a new Landing Station in New South Wales, with fiber links to Telesat’s PoP to enable secure, low-latency service across the region.
In Northern Ontario, Telesat has acquired land in Timmins to establish a Landing Station that will connect to terrestrial networks, helping bridge the digital divide and reinforcing Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and remote communities.
Additional landing station announcements will follow in early 2026. And these are not the only global interconnection options for Telesat Lightspeed customers. Customers can choose to bypass commercial infrastructure entirely and land data at their private landing station, preserving their data sovereignty.
Choice and flexibility in terminal access
Recognizing the diversity of user needs, Telesat is ensuring terminal flexibility is embedded from the outset. For customers adopting advanced flat panel antennas (FPAs), we are investing in innovation. This includes a US$5 million equity investment in Farcast, whose enterprise-grade FPA technology reduces Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) while integrating seamlessly with Telesat Lightspeed. We’ve also awarded contracts to Intellian for fixed and mobile AESA-based terminals, and to QEST for in-flight connectivity terminals that prioritize efficiency and reliability.
For those with existing Ka-band installations, we’re enabling direct compatibility. Viasat’s GM-40 antennas and ThinKom’s ThinAir Ka2517 will operate on Telesat Lightspeed from day one, giving airlines and service providers a seamless upgrade path. Additionally, our work with ALL.SPACE ensures support for multi-orbit, electronically steered terminals, supported by Telesat Government Solutions and demonstrated using our LEO 3 satellite. All these efforts reflect our drive to reduce barriers to adoption and streamline integration across customer environments.
Strong customer momentum
Leading service providers around the world are aligning with Telesat Lightspeed:
- Viasat – Viasat signed a substantial multi-year contract for Telesat Lightspeed LEO services. Under its multi-orbit strategy, Viasat plans to integrate Telesat Lightspeed into its services portfolio for aviation, maritime, enterprise, and defense markets.
- Orange – Orange and Telesat joined forces to offer new satellite connectivity options through a strategic commercial partnership. Orange signed a capacity commitment for Telesat Lightspeed LEO service, which will be integrated into its global portfolio of services for businesses and telecom operators.
- Vocus – Vocus will be offering Telesat Lightspeed services when the network becomes operational, ensuring resilient, low-latency connectivity for Vocus’ enterprise and government customers, complementing its already substantial LEO satellite services customer base. A unique feature of the Telesat Lightspeed service will be its Terminal-to-Terminal direct connectivity capability, which eliminates the need for terrestrial links for customers transmitting especially sensitive information.
- ADN Telecom – Telesat and ADN Telecom Limited announced a multi-year partnership to deliver Telesat Lightspeed LEO connectivity solutions across Bangladesh and South Asia. Through this partnership, Telesat will provide Telesat Lightspeed services and a Smart Virtual Network Operator (VNO) capability to ADN Telecom, enabling it to manage and deliver innovative, customized connectivity solutions for its enterprise, maritime, and government customers.
Space Norway and Arabsat have also negotiated Term Sheets for multi-Gbps capacity pools backed by CIRs and SLAs, positioning Telesat Lightspeed as a foundational layer in their multi-orbit service offerings.
These commitments, along with a robust pipeline, reflect market confidence in the Telesat Lightspeed value proposition that will help our customers reach their future growth ambitions, as evidenced by a CAD $1.1 billion backlog for the upcoming constellation.
Partnering for scale and success
Telesat has always worked collaboratively with its customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions that tackle the world’s most complex communication challenges. We provide powerful advantages that improve customer operations and growth. In a rapidly evolving space communications market, we believe working within an ecosystem of industry partners is the best path to scalable success.
2026 will mark major milestones not just for Telesat, but for the broader space industry. We look forward to sharing updates via The LEO Link, our quarterly newsletter, and continuing to deliver on the promise of global, high-performance LEO connectivity. Happy New Year!
