Ottawa-based Telesat is reportedly “racing” to launch its 298-craft Low Earth orbiting satellite platform. Even though Telesat is some two years behind Elon Musk’s Starlink, the Canadian company’s CEO, Dan Goldberg says Telesat’s Lightspeed LEO system will be the company’s “Holy Grail” and deliver a “sustainable competitive advantage in global broadband delivery”. Telesat is certainly […]
Canada’s MDA, the satellite builder formerly known as MacDonald, Dettwiler & Assoc – but perhaps better known as the builders of the Space Shuttle’s sophisticated ‘Canadarm’ robotic crane and still used on the International Space Station – is mounting an IPO. MDA, founded in 1969 (by Dr John MacDonald and Vern Dettwiler) also helped build […]
Space Florida, a State-backed unit designed to build on Florida’s already hugely successful space-related activity, is in contact with Project Kraken – a mystery space business that could be looking to locate in or near Florida’s famous Space Coast. Amazon has confirmed that its Project Kuiper mega-constellation of 3,200 satellites have anything to do with […]
The world’s three-largest satellite operators are complaining to Canada’s government regarding its proposed restructuring of C-band spectrum for 5G adoption. In essence they are saying that they must be compensated for giving up their frequencies over Canada, and any Canadian scheme which only compensates Telesat would be a violation of trade agreements. The comments come […]
Joseph Ibeh, analyst at satellite and space market research and consulting services specialist NSR, suggests that further satcom consolidation is on the horizon, with the global satellite communication industry transitioning to meet new market trends and match projected threats from perceived disruptors. In particular, he argues that an SES and Eutelsat merger could help both […]
Canadian satellite operator Telesat has announced its financial results for the three-month and one-year periods ended December 31st 2020 For the year, Telesat reported consolidated revenue of C$820million (€541m), a decrease of 10 per cent (C$90million) compared to the same period in 2019. When adjusted for changes in foreign exchange rates, revenue decreased 10 per […]
Amazon owner Jeff Bezos looks like suffering delays to his Project Kuiper broadband-by-satellite mega-constellation. Confirmed delays in the availability of his Blue Origin launch rocket could also affect Eutelsat which had reserved a flight on the rocket for one of its satellites. Bezos is backing the Blue Origin rocket launching system and they have delayed […]
Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat, which last week announced plans to build 300 Low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites for its Lighspeed project, is to receive a C$400 million (€260m) investment from the government of Quebec. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Telesat and the Quebec government. There is a catch. The cash comes in […]
It was always expected that there could be extra payments to the C-band satellite operators once the FCC-organised auction had shown the strength of demand for spectrum. The four key players (Intelsat, SES, Telesat and Eutelsat) are already in line to share around $10 billion in FCC-authorised “incentives” for clearing their C-band satellite spectrum. With […]
Ottawa-based Telesat has committed to its own mega-constellation of Low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. Telesat needed to put its own financial affairs in order first as well as review its potential suppliers. Thales Alenia Space gets the prime contract for the LEO fleet which is called Lightspeed. The fleet would comprise 298 satellites with services […]