telesat

Telesat began in 1969 as Telesat Canada, a Canadian Crown corporation created by an Act of Parliament. Telesat Canada launched Anik A1 in 1972 as the world's first domestic communications satellite in geostationary orbit operated by a commercial company;{{cite news|publisher=The Globe And Mail|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/telesat-celebrates-30-years-in-space/article25697152/|title=Telesat celebrates 30 years in space|date=8 November 2002}} this satellite was retired from use in 1981.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} Until February 1979, Telesat had a legal monopoly on Earth stations in Canada: any entity wishing to send or receive satellite signals had to sign a long-term lease with Telesat Canada for an Earth station.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} Contracts for such leases were still enforced after the monopoly was ended.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

Telesat Canada was privatized and sold by the federal government to Bell Canada in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/cable_services/SatelliteServices.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20151124124652/http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/index3.html?url=http://www.broadcasting-history.ca/cable_services/SatelliteServices.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 November 2015|title=Canadian Satellite Television|access-date=12 July 2015}}

On December 18, 2006, Loral Space & Communications announced that it, along with Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments), would acquire Telesat for US$2.8 billion.{{cite press release|title=Loral and PSP Investments agree to acquire Telesat Canada|publisher=Loral Space & Communications|date=2006-12-18|url=http://investor.loral.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=222699|access-date=2006-12-12}} On October 5, 2007, they received the final regulatory approval necessary to complete the acquisition of Telesat from BCE Inc. (the new holding company for Bell) for CAD$3.25 billion. The acquisition closed on October 31, 2007, with Loral owning 63% of Telesat.{{cite news |last1=Sherman|first1=Alex|title=Teachers', PSP nearing $7-billion Telesat deal|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/teachers-psp-nearing-7-billion-telesat-deal/article21738311/|access-date=December 6, 2017|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=November 24, 2014}}

At the same time, Telesat merged with Loral Skynet (formerly AT&T Skynet), a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. Loral Skynet was a full-service global satellite operator headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey. This resulted in the transfer of all of the assets of Loral Skynet to Telesat.

Telesat announced on December 30, 2009, that Nimiq 6 was built by Space Systems/Loral (SS/L). Bell Satellite TV, a Canadian satellite TV provider agreed to fully lease the satellite for its lifetime to serve their subscribers across Canada. Nimiq 6 has a payload of 32 high-powered Ku-band transponders. It uses the SS/L1300 platform and has a 15-year mission life. It was launched in 2012 by International Launch Services (ILS).{{cite news|url=http://www.satellitetoday.com/st/headlines/33659.html|title=ILS Wins Nimiq 6 Launch|publisher=Satellite Today|date=18 March 2010}}

On November 17, 2010: Telesat Holdings Inc. hired JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse Group AG to start a formal sales process and offer so-called staple financing to interest buyers for $6 billion to $7 billion.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-11-20/top-stories-business-and-finance|title=Top Stories: Business and Finance|publisher=Bloomberg.com |access-date=15 April 2015}}

MHI Launch Services (formerly H-IIA Launch Services) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS47JTH-sro Launch of KAGUYA / H-IIA F13]) launched Telstar 12 VANTAGE for Telesat in November 2015 on a H2A204 variant of the H-IIA rocket,{{cite press release|url=https://www.telesat.com/news-events/telesat-orders-high-throughput-satellite-replace-telstar-12-and-expand-capacity-15|title=Telesat orders high throughput satellite to replace Telstar 12 and expand capacity at 15° West|publisher=Telesat|date=24 November 2015|access-date=15 April 2015}} and it commenced service in December 2015.{{cite press release|title=Telesat's new Telstar 12 VANTAGE satellite now operational three weeks after launch|url=https://www.telesat.com/sites/default/files/news/t12v_operational_-_dec15_final_2.pdf|publisher=Telesat |date=15 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2016}}

In 2016 Telesat announced it would launch a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellation of 120 satellites, in polar orbit and in inclined orbits, about {{cvt|1000|km}} in altitude. The satellites would use the Ka-band, across 6 orbital planes, having at least 12 satellites in each plane. The siting of the orbital planes is to comply with the Canadian government's Enhanced Satellite Constellation Project, as well as providing global coverage.{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/telesat-prepares-shareholder-payday-outlines-117-satellite-constellation/ |title=Telesat prepares shareholder payday, outlines 117-satellite constellation|author=Peter B. de Selding|date=17 November 2016|publisher=SpaceNews}} The constellation is officially named Telesat Lightspeed.{{cite web|url=https://www.telesat.com/leo-satellites/|title=LEO Satellite {{!}} Telesat Lightspeed|publisher=Telesat|access-date=9 February 2021}}

In 2017, Telesat expanded the LEO constellation plan to about 300 satellites, coupled with 50 ground stations across the globe. There would be about 80 polar orbit satellites, with the remainder in inclined orbits, for global coverage, including polar regions. The internet satellite constellation is targeted to have a 30-50 ms latency. The satellites are expected to be around {{cvt|800|kg}} and last 10 years on orbit. The constellation is expected to have a 16-24 Tb/s capacity with 8 Tbit/s (1 TB/s) available for customers.{{cite news

|url=https://spacenews.com/telesat-preparing-for-mid-2020-constellation-manufacturer-selection/|title=Telesat preparing for mid-2020 constellation manufacturer selection|author=Caleb Henry|date= 1 May 2020 |publisher=SpaceNews}}

In 2018, the Phase 1 pathfinder test satellite for the LEO constellation was launched. Various customers and satellite transceiver equipment manufacturers started testing with the satellite.{{cite news|url=https://www.spaceitbridge.com/canadian-first-responders-test-telesat-leo.htm|title=Canadian first responders test Telesat LEO|author=Doug Mohney|date=6 March 2020|publisher=Space IT Bridge}}{{cite news|url=https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/52061/Live-Testing-with-Telesats-LEO-Satellite-Confirms-Advantages-of-New-CCOM-Transportable-Antenna-System|title=Live Testing with Telesat's LEO Satellite Confirms Advantages of New C-COM Transportable Antenna System|date=4 February 2020|publisher=Newsfile}}{{cite news |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/06/04/2043957/0/en/Telef%C3%B3nica-Puts-Telesat-s-Phase-1-LEO-Satellite-to-the-Test.html|title=Telefónica Puts Telesat's Phase 1 LEO Satellite to the Test |date=4 June 2020|publisher=Global Newswire}}

In 2019, Telesat contracted with Blue Origin on their New Glenn rocket and Relativity Space with their Terran 1 rocket, for satellite launches to their LEO constellation.

In 2020, Telesat filed plans for expanding the satellite count to its LEO constellation to over 1,600 satellites.{{cite news|publisher=Advanced Television|url=https://advanced-television.com/2020/05/29/telesat-ups-leo-plans/|title=Telesat ups LEO plans|date= 29 May 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/broadband/2020/07/23/8-takeaways-from-our-spacex-telsat-leo-constellation-webcast/|title=8 Takeaways From Our SpaceX, Telesat LEO Constellation Webcast|publisher=Satellite Today|work=Via Satellite|author=Rachel Jewett|date= 23 July 2020}} In November 2020, Telesat announced that it will become publicly traded on the American stock index NASDAQ in mid-2021.{{cite web|title=Telesat to Become Public Company through Agreement with Loral Space & Communications and PSP Investments – Telesat|url=https://www.telesat.com/press/press-releases/telesat-to-become-public-company-through-agreement-with-loral-space-communications-and-psp-investments/|access-date=2020-11-24|website=telesat.com}}

In July 2023, LEO 3 satellite was launched.{{cite web |title=Telesat’s LEO 3 Demonstration Satellite Successfully Launched |url=https://www.telesat.com/press/press-releases/telesats-leo-3-demonstration-satellite-successfully-launched/ |publisher=Telesat |date=18 July 2023 |access-date=4 May 2024 }} In Aug. 2023, Telesat switched suppliers for its planned Lightspeed global internet network, from Thales Alenia Space to MDA.https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/11/telesat-swaps-internet-satellite-suppliers-to-save-2-billion.html In 2025, Telesat continued to develop its Telesat Lightspeed program.https://ottawacitizen.com/sponsored/top-employers/telesat-is-experiencing-lightspeed-growth In September 2023, Telesat announced a new contract with SpaceX for 14 launches with up to 18 satellites on each launch for the Lightspeed constellation, starting in mid-2026.{{Cite web |last=Rainbow |first=Jason |date=2023-09-11 |title=Telesat signs multi-launch SpaceX deal covering all Lightspeed satellites |url=https://spacenews.com/telesat-signs-multi-launch-spacex-deal-covering-all-lightspeed-satellites/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}} Viasat signed a "substantial" contract to use the service in April 2025, shortly after smaller customer agreements were announced with Space Norway, Orange, and ADN Telecom.https://spacenews.com/viasat-adds-telesat-lightspeed-leo-connectivity-to-multi-orbit-mix/

The company is the fourth-largest fixed satellite services provider in the world.{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-loral-sale/exclusive-telesat-owner-loral-explores-sale-sources-idUKBREA0L21F20140122 |title=Exclusive: Telesat owner Loral explores sale-sources |date=2014-01-22 |work=Reuters |first1=Soyoung |last1=Kim |first2=Greg |last2=Roumeliotis |first3=Nadia |last3=Damouni}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob-magazine/article-telesat-is-in-race-to-deliver-high-speed-satellite-internet-but-its/ |title=Telesat is in race to deliver high-speed satellite internet, but it's going up against two of the world's richest men |first=Jason |last=Kirby |date=2022-05-25 |work=The Globe and Mail}} It owns a fleet of satellites, with others under construction, and operates additional satellites for other entities.

Telesat carries Canada's two major DBS providers signals: Bell Satellite TV and Shaw Direct, as well as more than 200 of Canada's television channels.

Telesat's Anik F2 carries a Ka-band spot beam payload for satellite Internet access for Wildblue users in the United States and Xplornet users in Canada.{{cite web |title=WildBlue: How it works|url=http://www.wildblue.com/aboutWildblue/how_it_works_demo.jsp|access-date=2010-11-10}}{{cite press release|title=Pricing Announced for New Xplornet Ka-band Satellite Service|publisher=Xplornet|date=2005-04-19|url=http://www.xplornet.com/news/in-the-news/pricing-announced-for-xplornet-ka-band.aspx|access-date=2010-11-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718132313/http://www.xplornet.com/news/in-the-news/pricing-announced-for-xplornet-ka-band.aspx|archive-date=2011-07-18}} The KA band system uses spot beams to manage bandwidth concerns, linking to multiple satellite ground stations connected to the Internet.

{{Main|Anik (satellite)|Nimiq|Telstar}}

{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}

• Anik A1 – 1972
• Anik A2 – 1973
• Anik A3 – 1975
• Anik B – 1978
• Anik D1 – 1982 – decommissioned 1991
• Anik C3 – 1982
• Anik C2 – 1983 – sold to Paracom S.A. 1993
• Anik D2 – 1984 – sold to GE Americom 1991 and ARABSAT 1993
• Anik C1 – 1985 – sold to Paracom S.A. 1993 and decommissioned 2003
• Anik E2 – 1991
• Anik E1 – 1991
• MSAT-1 – 1996
• Nimiq-1 – 1999
• Anik F1 – 2000
• Nimiq-2 – 2002
• Estrela do Sul 1 (Telstar 14) – 2004
• Anik F2 – 2004
• Anik F1R – 2005
• Anik F3 – 2007
• Telstar 11N – entered service on 31 March 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716203714/http://www.telesat.com/File/B594215A79394AD69A24FA7A237275E7]
• Nimiq-4 – 2008
• Nimiq-5 – 2009
• Telstar 14R (Estrela do Sul 2) – 2011 – North solar array did not fully deploy.[http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1105/25telstar14r/index.html]
• Nimiq-6 – 2012
• Telstar 12V – 2015
• Telesat LEO 1 – 2018
• Telstar 19V – 2018
• Telstar 18V – 2018
• Telesat LEO 3 – 2023

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite journal|last1=Babe|first1=Robert E.|title=CONTROL OF TELEPHONES: THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE|journal=Canadian Journal of Communication|volume=13|issue=2|url=http://www.cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/download/447/353}}

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{{Commons category|Telesat Canada}}

• [http://www.telesat.com/ Telesat corporate website]

{{CATV Canada}}

{{North American DTV}}

{{Bell Canada}}

{{Satcomm}}

{{Canadian Space Agency}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cable and DBS companies of Canada

Category:Companies based in Ottawa

Category:Direct broadcast satellite services

Category:Communications satellite operators

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1969

Category:Mass media companies established in 1969

Category:1969 establishments in Canada

Category:2007 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Space program of Canada