The world’s largest commercial communications
satellite, Telesat’s Anik F2, became fully operational this week following
final in-orbit testing. Dr. Marc Garneau, President of the Canadian Space
Agency, joined Paul Bush, Telesat Vice President, and other space industry
leaders in making the announcement during the International Astronautical
Congress, the world’s premier space event, now being held in Vancouver.

Telesat’s Anik F2 will deliver leading-edge multimedia services to clients
across North America through its C- and Ku-band transponders. Piloting a
demonstration module funded by a unique private-public partnership, Anik F2
is making history as the first satellite to fully commercialize the Ka
frequency band. Technologies designed for this new frequency have the
potential to connect the last kilometre, delivering cost-effective, two-way
broadband, Internet, tele-health, tele-learning and e-government services to
commercial clients and Canadians wherever they live.

“Anik F2 delivers groundbreaking and innovative technology that is
reinforcing the Government of Canada’s commitment to connecting Canadians
living and working in remote, rural and urban communities throughout our
country,” Dr. Garneau said. “It also demonstates the Canadian space
industry’s unbeatable capabilities in working together to design, launch and
deliver state-of-the-art, high-speed, multimedia communications services to
meet the evolving needs of Canadians.

“For 35 years, Telesat has been committed to bring Canadians
state-of-the-art communications services, and Anik F2 is the latest example
of this vision,” Mr. Bush said. “Telesat’s Anik F2 enables cost-effective,
two-way, high-speed Internet access – anywhere and anytime. For Canadians,
this opens the door to vast improvements in the delivery of both business
communications and public services.”

The Ka-band demonstration module is the product of a public-private
partnership formed between the Canadian Space Agency, Communications
Research Canada, Telesat, EMS Technologies, and COM DEV. The delivery of
interactive high-speed broadband services to citizens living in all regions
of Canada is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s National Satellite
Initiative http://broadband.gc.ca/pub/program/nsi/index.html.

The National Satellite Initiative enhances services and addresses the high
cost of broadband access for communities in the far and mid-north, and in
remote areas of Canada. Broadband access using Anik F2’s Ka-band technology
will deliver first-rate interactive healthcare, learning and e-government
services and will provide Canada’s remote communities with a window on the
world.
Most of CSA’s total investment of $80 million in Anik F2 went towards the
development and production of advanced satellite communications technology
by ComDev and EMS. As a result, Telesat will provide the Government of
Canada $50 million worth of multimedia satellite services dedicated to the
National Satellite Initiative.

“COM DEV’s contribution to Anik F2, known as BEAM*LINK, was a vote of
confidence in our ability to develop innovative and cost effective space
payloads,” said John Keating, CEO of COM DEV.
“EMS Technologies is especially pleased in helping make Anik F2 such as
success through the development of our experimental first-of-its-kind
onboard processor, known as SpaceMux, as well as through the provision of
the main transmit Ka-Band spot beam antennas,” said Alan L. Haase, senior
vice president and general manager of EMS Space & Technology / Montreal.

Manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems, Anik F2 was launched July 17 on an
Ariane 5G rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Arianespace provided mission management. Anik F2 was Telesat’s fifteenth
successful satellite launch.
For more information regarding Telesat’s Anik F2 and the National Satellite
Initiative, please consult the attached backgrounders or visit the Canada
Space Agency website at http://www.space.gc.ca or
Telesat’s website at http://www.telesat.ca

About the Canadian Space Agency

Established in 1989 and with its headquarters situated in Longueuil, Quebec,
the Canadian Space Agency is responsible for coordinating all civil,
space-related policies and programs related to science and technology
research, industrial development, and international cooperation on behalf of
the Government of Canada. The Canadian Space Agency directs its resources
and activities through four key thrusts: Earth Observation, Space Science
and Exploration, Satellite Communications, and Space Awareness and Learning.
With the overall responsibility for advancing Canada’s space policy and
programs, the Canadian Space Agency leverages international cooperation to
champion world-class scientific research and industrial development for the
benefit of humanity.

About Telesat

Telesat is a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems
management. The company made history in 1972 with the launch of the first
domestic commercial communications satellite in geostationary orbit. Today,
Telesat competes with other top international satellite fleets in providing
telecommunications and broadcasting services throughout the Americas, and is
a leading consultant, operator and partner in satellite ventures around the
globe. Telesat is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BCE Inc., a leading
communications company with shares listed in the United States, Canada and
Europe.

About EMS Technologies

EMS Technologies, Inc. is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture
of space, airborne and terrestrial wireless solutions, and focuses its
unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile
information users. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, employs
approximately 1,700 people worldwide, and has manufacturing facilities in
Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal, and Brazil.

About COM DEV

COM DEV, based in Cambridge, Ontario is the largest Canadian-based designer
and manufacturer of space hardware subsystems. With facilities in Canada and
the United Kingdom, COM DEV manufactures products that are sold to major
satellite prime contractors for use in communications, space science, remote
sensing and military satellites.

For more information, please contact:

Carole Duval
Media Relations and Information Services, CSA
Tel.: (450) 926-4972
E-mail: carole.duval@space.gc.ca < mailto:carole.duval@space.gc.ca