Telesat announced that it has acquired land in Estevan, Saskatchewan, and Papineauville, Quebec, and has leased land in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, to host new landing stations for its Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.
The new sites will route data between the Lightspeed constellation and major fibre and internet exchange points, improving network resiliency and performance across Canada and beyond. The Quebec station is slated for completion in the third quarter of 2026, with the Saskatchewan sites following by year‑end 2026.
These stations are a critical enabler for Lightspeed, aligning with the first satellite launch scheduled for late 2026. Asit Tandon, Telesat’s Chief Network and Information Officer, said, “Telesat is rapidly advancing the global buildout of the terrestrial infrastructure that will be fully integrated with our LEO satellites, and these Quebec and Saskatchewan sites are playing pivotal roles in that progress. These strategically located facilities strengthen connectivity across Canada and contribute to the worldwide terrestrial foundation we are establishing ahead of our first satellite launch in December.”
Telesat’s legacy GEO business has seen declining revenues and net losses, and the company is investing heavily in Lightspeed as its future growth engine. The company’s LEO backlog stands at $1.1 billion, and capital expenditures remain high as the network expands. The new landing stations signal a continued commitment to building the terrestrial foundation that will underpin the company’s projected commercial service in 2027.
The expansion also positions Telesat to bridge the digital divide by delivering secure, high‑speed broadband to enterprise, government, and maritime customers. It strengthens the company’s competitive stance against other LEO players such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and aligns with Canadian government support for rural connectivity initiatives.
Overall, the new landing stations demonstrate Telesat’s strategic focus on integrating terrestrial infrastructure with its LEO constellation, preparing the company for the launch of its first satellites and the roll‑out of commercial broadband service in 2027.
The content on EveryTicker is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. We are not financial advisors. Consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. Any actions you take based on information from this site are solely at your own risk.