Fast Internet Across the Nation Thanks to Canada’s Largest Space Program

Space technology – including satellites – keeps Canadians safe, makes our work easier and connects us to the world.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was joined today by Quebec Premier François Legault to announce an agreement with Telesat to complete and operate Lightspeed – one of the most innovative satellite networks in the world. With a $2.14 billion loan from the federal government, Telesat Lightspeed will be Canada’s largest space program, supporting 2,000 jobs across the country through Telesat and its supply chain. This includes prime satellite contractor MDA Space, which develops and operates the iconic Canadarm technology.

Telesat Lightspeed will expand the internet and 5G network to communities across Canada, offering affordable, high-speed broadband connectivity. As a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, it will take less time to send and receive information, leading to better and faster internet service, even in rural, remote and northern communities. The network will accelerate the federal government’s work to connect all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030.

With this investment, Telesat has already grown its Canadian workforce by 33 percent over the past year. The company will also invest more than $4.4 billion in our economy over the next 15 years, create 200 jobs in higher education cooperatives, and provide $1.6 million in scholarships for students in Canada, with a focus on women and Indigenous youth in science, technology, engineering, and math programs.

Additionally, the Telesat Lightspeed network will help the Government of Canada strengthen its satellite communications technology and support the modernization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to keep Canadians safe.

To facilitate high-volume production, construction is underway on a 185,000-square-foot expansion at MDA’s satellite manufacturing facility in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. Once completed, the facility will be the world’s largest high-volume manufacturing facility for its class of satellites – creating jobs and supporting construction of the Telesat Lightspeed project.

Telesat Lightspeed will bring high-speed Internet across Canada, create good-paying jobs, grow the economy and ensure that Canadians are at the forefront of space technology. In addition to today’s announcement, the Government of Canada is lowering the cost of living, supporting research and innovation, investing in affordable dental care and helping every generation get a fair chance.

Quotations

“Our government is focused on Canadians, and today’s announcement with Telesat and MDA is our commitment in action. Designed, manufactured and operated in Canada, Telesat Lightspeed’s satellite network will be the largest in Canada’s history – creating thousands of jobs, growing our economy and bringing high-speed Internet to Canadians. We are putting Canada at the forefront of opportunity, with a fair chance for everyone to succeed.”

“This is good news for our economy. Not only are we consolidating 650 existing jobs, but we are also creating close to 1,000 well-paid jobs in an innovative sector. This is also a strategic project for Quebec. The message we are sending today with the Telesat/MDA project is that Quebec continues to make its mark. The future of aerospace is happening right here in Quebec!”

“Today, we are solidifying Canada’s position as a world leader in the new space economy. This investment will create high-skilled jobs, support innovation and secure Canada’s telecommunications systems. As the largest space program ever conceived and built in Canada, this agreement with Telesat Lightspeed will have a significant impact on the growing network of Canadian suppliers and talent, providing critical support to the sector as it continues to grow.”

“High-speed internet is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity. Today’s investment in Telesat’s Lightspeed project will help the federal government achieve its goal of connecting all Canadians to high-speed internet by 2030, so they can better access the services they need, no matter where they live.”

“This satellite network is an effective way to provide high-speed telecommunications to all regions of Quebec. We are proud to support these two companies that are driving technological innovation, helping to position Quebec as a true leader in the space industry. And we are even prouder to see companies locating here to take advantage of all that Quebec has to offer!”

“We are pleased to finalize these funding agreements with the governments of Canada and Quebec as we make significant progress in expanding the revolutionary Telesat Lightspeed constellation, the largest space program in Canada’s history. Telesat Lightspeed will help close the digital divide in Canada and around the world, create and sustain thousands of high-quality jobs in Canada, deliver billions of dollars in investment to the Canadian economy, boost domestic innovation and exports, and ensure that Canada and Quebec are at the forefront of the rapidly growing new space economy.”

“The global satellite market is at an inflection point as satellite operators and customers transition to digital solutions, such as MDA AURORA, that offer greater performance and flexibility at significantly lower costs. Our strategic investments in the expansion of our satellite manufacturing facility and team are ideally positioned to expand export and growth opportunities for the Canadian space industry in Quebec and across the country.”

Quick facts

• Government of Canada funding for this project will be provided in the form of a repayable loan. As part of this investment, the federal government will receive interest on the loan and warrants so that Canadian taxpayers can benefit from the financial success of Telesat’s Lightspeed program.
• Founded as a government corporation in 1969, Telesat is now a Canadian-owned and publicly traded corporation (TSAT: TSX and Nasdaq), employing Canadians in five provinces and one territory. It is one of the largest and most innovative satellite operators in the world.
• MDA Space is a Canadian company that is a world leader in space and satellite technology.
• MDA’s satellite manufacturing facility in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, was purpose-built to produce MDA AURORA, the recently launched industry-leading digital satellite that will power Telesat Lightspeed.
• The Telesat Lightspeed program is already underway, with the launch of the first of an initial 198 satellites in low Earth orbit scheduled for 2026.
• Telesat Lightspeed will provide satellite capacity for multiple industries, including aviation, maritime and defense. It will also provide capacity for internet service providers to deliver internet services to homes, businesses and government institutions in remote communities.
• Low Earth orbit satellites operate 35 times closer to Earth than traditional telecommunications satellites. This means they take less time to send and receive information, leading to better and faster internet service, even in rural, remote and northern areas.
• The borrower of the loan will be Telesat LEO Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Telesat Corporation.
• In 2016, 84 per cent of Canadians had access to high-speed internet. By 2022, that number had risen to almost 94 per cent. The federal government remains committed to its goal of providing 98 per cent of Canadians with access to high-speed internet by 2026 and 100 per cent of Canadians by 2030.
• Since 2016, the federal government has committed more than $3.7 billion to over 600 projects to help bring high-speed internet to more than one million households in rural and remote areas across Canada, including 35,000 Indigenous households.

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