Telesat Adds 69 Satellites to Broadband Network in Contract Expansion
Defense-Linked Order Grows, but Details of a Second Military Contract Remain Unfinished
Telesat is expanding its Lightspeed low Earth orbit broadband constellation by 69 satellites, bringing the fully funded fleet to 225 spacecraft, the company said Tuesday.
“Reliable military communication in the Arctic is a necessity for protecting Canadian sovereignty.”
Mike Greely, MDA Space
The expansion adds 27 satellites to the 198 already ordered from MDA Space, the Toronto-based manufacturer building the constellation. MDA Space said the increase raises the total value of its contract with Telesat by $474 million, covering the new satellites, a swap of 500 megahertz of commercial Ka-band spectrum for military Ka-band, and other long-lead components.
The order builds on a Strategic Partnership Agreement signed last year among MDA Space, Canada’s Department of National Defence and Telesat to deliver connectivity across the Canadian Arctic. That effort, called the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project-Polar, is intended to let the Canadian Armed Forces operate in the region.
A second piece of that defense program is not yet under contract. The Government of Canada said Tuesday that MDA Space will serve as prime contractor for a planned Ultra High Frequency and X-band constellation in medium Earth orbit, with Telesat acting as a subcontractor. Negotiations to define and develop that system are underway, and contract terms have not been disclosed.
Every MDA AURORA satellite built for the Lightspeed constellation will carry the 500 megahertz of military Ka-band spectrum alongside commercial Ka-band capacity, according to the company. The satellites are being built at MDA Space’s manufacturing facility in Montreal.
Mike Greenley, chief executive officer of MDA Space, said the Arctic communications link serves a specific defense function. “Reliable military communication in the Arctic is a necessity for protecting Canadian sovereignty, maintaining situational awareness, coordinating joint operations with allies, and responding quickly to emergencies in a region where every minute counts,” Greenley said.
MDA Space said most of the $474 million increase will be added to its backlog in the third quarter of 2026, as some long-lead-time items had already been booked.
Contract terms for the medium-Earth-orbit UHF and X-band component will be disclosed once negotiations are complete, the company said.