Telesat announced today that orbit raising and payload testing on its Phase 1 LEO satellite have been completed and that the spacecraft is now ready to support live demonstrations of its capabilities.
Testing of Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO is an important milestone in the company’s plans to deploy a global LEO constellation that will revolutionize broadband communications services around the world. As previously announced, satellite industry leaders including Global Eagle Entertainment, OmniAccess and Optus Satellite have agreed to collaborate in live, over-the-air trials on Telesat Phase 1 LEO. Other companies that serve major markets of interest to Telesat will also be participating.
Once fully deployed, Telesat’s LEO constellation is designed to deliver transformative, fiber-like broadband for commercial and government customers throughout the world. The initial constellation will consist of approximately 120 state-of-the-art satellites providing full global coverage and Telesat is evaluating options to expand its system beyond this initial configuration.
Phase 1 testing will enable satellite leaders to experience key advantages of the Telesat’s LEO system – including ultra-low latency and high speeds – and assess the role Telesat’s constellation can play in their next-generation broadband networks. In addition to the satellite testing, Telesat and participating companies will explore longer-term joint services and market development plans focusing on Telesat’s LEO program.
“Telesat is pleased to have signed a number of highly respected, industry leaders who are eager to participate in live trials on Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite,” said Dave Wendling, Telesat’s Chief Technical Officer. “We’re equally pleased to begin Phase 1 LEO testing and demonstrate the transformative capabilities that Telesat’s LEO constellation will deliver, including far higher data rates with superior latency at low cost. Not only will the broadband experience of Telesat’s LEO system be on par with advanced terrestrial networks but, for the first time ever, it will enable the availability of high performing broadband on a global basis. We look forward to beginning customer trials and continuing to collaborate with industrial partners in optimizing our space and ground capabilities as we work to deploy a high capacity network that will deliver low latency, fiber-like broadband to commercial and government users throughout the world.”
About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 15 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one Phase 1 LEO satellite which is the start of Telesat’s planned global LEO satellite constellation that will offer low latency, high throughput broadband services. An additional two GEO satellites are under construction with launches planned for mid-2018. Telesat is also a leading technical consultant providing high value expertise and support to satellite operators, insurers and other industry participants on a global basis. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).
