Canadian satellite operator Telesat is building a mega-constellation of 198 low Earth orbiting satellites. They’ll start being launched later this year and start coming into service in 2027. Meanwhile, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney is pitching Lightspeed to non-Canadian governments.

The UK is already an investor in Eutelsat’s OneWeb and is a reported to be interested in participating in the European-backed IRIS2 mega-constellation. While the UK has not yet initiated official negotiations, officials suggest a “tech tie-up” could allow UK industry to supply key technologies into IRIS2.

But the UK is also being targeted by Canada, along with Australia Norway and Japan as being potential users of Lightspeed.

A March 5th speech by Prime Minister Carney to the Australian Parliament specifically mentioned the benefits of sharing technology on the basis of being part of a multinational effort by friendly nations to counter the dominant position in space by the US and China. Carney didn’t mention Lightspeed in his speech to the Australian parliament, his office has confirmed that he was talking about Telesat Lightspeed.

“We need coalitions now to address immediate challenges,” Carney said. “The fact is that many countries now are concluding that they need greater strategic autonomy. This impulse is understandable. When the rules no longer protect you, you must defend yourself. Today, sovereignty requires reliable access to space-based communications and storage. vaccines, semiconductors, payment systems and capital.”

Carney talked about the position of Ukraine and where reliable satellite communications are a fundamental requirement for security.

“A Canadian-based constellation of LEO satellites will launch next year, providing reliable and secure global communications. We’re working with other like-minded partners who possess similar capabilities to build out a deep, resilient, sovereign system that we can all share, and we can each control in our territories,” said Carney.

Carney is doing the rounds and has planned meetings in Norway and the UK.

Telesat is also busy at home. It has confirmed the acquisition of land in Estevan, Saskatchewan and Papineauville, Quebec, and the lease of land in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan to host new landing stations for the Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network. The landing stations will enhance network resiliency and performance for Telesat Lightspeed, enabling sovereign, next-generation digital services that support Canada’s economic growth and reinforce the protection of Arctic and northern territories. The Quebec landing station is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026 with the Saskatchewan sites to follow by year end.

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Categories: Articles, Satellite

Tags: canada, lightspeed