Our History
55+ years of creating connections
As one of the largest satellite operators in the world, Telesat’s innovations have been central to the establishment and growth of satellite communications. This timeline highlights key milestones during our 55+ years of creating connections.

1969
Canadian Parliament establishes Telesat as a commercial company with a mandate to provide satellite communications services to Canada.
1969

1972
Telesat launched Anik A1, the world’s first commercial domestic communications satellite in geostationary orbit.
1972

1978
Telesat launched the first commercial Ku-band satellite on which was offered the first direct-to-home (DTH) television service, laying the groundwork for the global DTH industry.
1978

1981
Telesat co-located two satellites in a single orbital slot for the first time, now a widely used industry practice.
1981

2004
Telesat launched Anik F2, the first satellite to provide consumer Ka-band broadband services.
2004

2007
Telesat Canada and Loral Skynet merge, becoming the fourth largest FSS operator in the world with increased geographic coverage, fleet depth, and commercial resources
2007

2009
Telesat launched Telstar 11N, the first satellite to provide Ku-band coverage of the Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic Circle to the Equator.
2009

2013
Telesat launched Anik G1, the first commercial satellite with substantial X-band coverage of the Pacific Ocean and Hawaii to service the Canadian government and its allies.
2013

2015
Telesat launched Telstar 12 VANTAGE, the first of our high throughput satellites (HTS) to combine HTS and broad beams to maximize throughput, efficiency and flexibility.
2015

2018
Telesat launches its Phase 1 LEO satellite – the start of a new broadband constellation to transform global communications.
2018

2019
Telesat conducts the world’s first 5G backhaul demo over LEO satellite in partnership with Vodafone and the University of Surrey.
2019

2019
Telesat celebrates the achievements that have shaped the global satellite communications industry for 50 years.
2019

2020
Telesat U.S. Services, dba Telesat Government Solutions is selected by DARPA for Blackjack Track B research, development and in-orbit demonstration for LEO satellites
2020

2021
Telesat Corporation announced that it is a public company and will be trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the ticker symbol “TSAT”
2021

2023
Telesat contracts MDA as prime satellite manufacturer for the world’s most advanced, enterprise-class LEO network, Telesat Lightspeed
2023