Telesat
TSATTelesat is one of the world's largest and most innovative global satellite operators, working collaboratively with customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions across telecommunications, mobility, government, and broadcast sectors.
- Founded
- 1969
- Headquarters
- Ottawa, Canada
- Stage
- Public
- Ownership
- Listed
- Market cap
- $2.56B-19.0% 30d
Quick Facts
About Telesat
Telesat is one of the world's largest and most innovative global satellite operators, working collaboratively with customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions across telecommunications, mobility, government, and broadcast sectors. With headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, and a heritage spanning over 50 years, Telesat combines operational excellence with pioneering technology development to address evolving connectivity demands.
The company operates a fleet of geostationary (GEO) satellites providing reliable, high-throughput coverage across the Americas, Atlantic, and other regions. These assets deliver essential backhaul for telecommunications carriers, enterprise networking for corporations, broadcast distribution for media companies, and connectivity for maritime and aviation customers. Telesat's extensive teleport infrastructure enables comprehensive ground-based services supporting global operations.
Telesat Lightspeed represents the company's transformative low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, designed to deliver fiber-like connectivity worldwide. The advanced LEO network will provide enterprise-grade, high-capacity, secure, and resilient broadband with low latency enabling real-time applications previously impossible via satellite. Lightspeed targets enterprise networks, government communications, backhaul for mobile operators, and mobility applications requiring next-generation performance.
The company serves diverse verticals including data and telecom carriers requiring internet and wireless backhaul, mobility customers in aviation and maritime, government agencies needing universal connectivity and defense solutions, and first responder organizations requiring resilient communications. Telesat's engineering teams provide technical expertise for antenna pointing, link budget analysis, and service optimization. With combined GEO reliability and LEO innovation, Telesat continues advancing satellite communications capabilities for customers worldwide.
Products and product lines
| Product | Line | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Telesat Lightspeed | LEO broadband constellation (in development) | Fully funded low-Earth-orbit constellation being expanded from 156 to 225 satellites; global commercial service targeted for around the end of Q1 2028. |
| GEO satellite fleet | Geostationary satellite fleet | Serves broadcast, enterprise, aviation and maritime customers; fleet utilization was 60% as of 30 June 2026 after the retirement of Telstar 14R and Anik F4. |
| MDA Space (Lightspeed prime satellite manufacturer) | Satellite manufacturing (supplier) | Telesat switched Lightspeed's prime satellite manufacturer from Thales Alenia Space to MDA in August 2023; in August 2026 MDA won a further $474 million award to build 27 additional AURORA-based satellites for the Arctic ESCP-P expansion. |
| Blue Origin / New Glenn launch agreement | Launch services | Telesat contracted Blue Origin's New Glenn (and Relativity Space's Terran 1) in 2019 to launch Lightspeed satellites; Telesat's primary disclosed Lightspeed launch commitment since September 2023 is a 14-launch agreement with SpaceX, and no 2024-2026 source found by this review confirms whether the original Blue Origin agreement remains active. |
| Enhanced Satellite Communications Project – Polar (ESCP-P) | Government/defense satcom | Secure Military Ka-band Arctic connectivity for the Canadian Armed Forces under a contract worth up to $2.7 billion (CAD) with Canada's Defence Investment Agency, signed August 2026. |
| Optical satellite connectivity (with Cailabs) | Government/defense satcom | Secure optical space-to-ground connectivity collaboration for government missions, announced 1 September 2026. |
| Upper C-Band spectrum transition | Spectrum monetization | Telesat is eligible for approximately US$189 million in FCC incentive payments for repurposing 160 MHz of Upper C-Band spectrum for terrestrial wireless use. |
Timeline
- 2019 Telesat contracts Blue Origin's New Glenn and Relativity Space's Terran 1 to launch satellites for the planned Lightspeed constellation. [source]
- 2023 Telesat switches Lightspeed's prime satellite manufacturer from Thales Alenia Space to MDA in August, a move it said would cut the programme's cost by roughly $2 billion. [source]
- 2026 The U.S. FCC issues its Upper C-Band Report and Order in July, making Telesat eligible for approximately US$189 million in incentive payments for repurposing 160 MHz of C-Band spectrum for terrestrial wireless use. [source]
- 2026 Telesat signs a $2.3 billion (CAD) contract, plus $400 million in options, with Canada's Defence Investment Agency to deliver Telesat Lightspeed Arctic Mil-Ka connectivity to the Canadian Armed Forces under the ESCP-P program, expanding the Lightspeed constellation from 156 to 225 satellites; announced 4 August. [source]
- 2026 MDA Space is separately awarded $474 million on 4 August to build the 27 additional AURORA satellites (198 to 225) for the Lightspeed Arctic expansion, with military Ka-band payloads. [source]
- 2026 Telesat reports Q2 2026 consolidated revenue of $79 million (down 25%) and a $559 million net loss driven largely by non-cash fair-value losses on Lightspeed financing warrants, and states Lightspeed is fully funded with global commercial service targeted around the end of Q1 2028; reported 13 August. [source]
- 2026 Telesat Government Solutions and Cailabs announce a collaboration on secure optical space-to-ground connectivity for government missions, 1 September. [source]
- 2026 Telesat is named to the TSX30, ranking among the top 30 performing stocks on the Toronto Stock Exchange based on dividend-adjusted share-price growth of 475% over the three years to 30 June 2026, announced 9 September. [source]
Dan Goldberg (CEO)
Team
- Dan GoldbergCEO · source
Signals
- Market cap, 90 days
- +6.1%
- Verification
- Verified 2026-09-11
Categories & Capabilities
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TSAT · Daily close data
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Frequently asked about Telesat
Quick answers to the questions readers most often search for.
- When was Telesat founded?
- Telesat was founded in 1969 in Canada.
- Where is Telesat headquartered?
- Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.
- What does Telesat do?
- Telesat is one of the world's largest and most innovative global satellite operators, working collaboratively with customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions across telecommunications, mobility, government, and broadcast sectors. With headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, and a heritage spanning over 50 years, Tele…
- Is Telesat publicly traded?
- Yes. Telesat trades under the ticker TSAT on NasdaqGS.
- What sector does Telesat operate in?
- Telesat works in satellite communications, Satellite operators and Connectivity, plus 1 other space-industry sectors.
Sources
The structured fields on this page (founding year, location, sector, status, listing) and the profile text are drawn from the sources below. How profiles are drafted and checked is described in our methodology.
- Official website (telesat.com)
- Market data via Yahoo Finance (TSAT) · retrieved 2026-09-14
- Company LinkedIn page
- Wikidata / Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-09-04
- Merged duplicate entry telesat-canada · retrieved 2026-09-05
- Telesat: press release PDF — Telesat reports results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Telesat: Telesat secures $2.3 billion Arctic military satcom contract (4 Aug 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Telesat: Telesat Government Solutions and Cailabs Collaborate on Secure Optical Connectivity (1 Sep 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Telesat: Farcast completes Telesat Lightspeed antenna technology demonstration milestone (2 Sep 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Telesat: Telesat named to the TSX30 (9 Sep 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- Telesat corporate site: Leadership Team (CEO title) · retrieved 2026-09-09
- MDA Space: MDA Space Awarded $474 Million to Expand the Telesat Lightspeed LEO Constellation (4 Aug 2026) · retrieved 2026-09-11
Data Accuracy Notice: Information about Telesat is compiled from publicly available sources including company websites, press releases, regulatory filings, and industry reports. Data is reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most recent developments.