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Ottawa awards Telesat $2.3B Arctic military satellite contract
The 15-year pact expands Telesat’s Lightspeed fleet by 69 satellites and gives the military a domestic alternative to Starlink, officials said.
- On Tuesday, the federal government signed a 15-year, $2.3 billion contract with Telesat to provide secure satellite communications for the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.
- Telesat is pivoting from geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles away to its new Lightspeed low-Earth orbit constellation, addressing the military's limited Arctic connectivity options and competing with Starlink.
- The agreement expands the Lightspeed fleet by 69 satellites to 225 total, while triggering a $474 million contract extension for Ontario-based MDA Space to build the infrastructure.
- Telesat shares jumped 32% to C$52.91 while MDA Space shares rose 16% to C$49.04, reflecting investor confidence in the military expansion and company's strategic pivot.
- The Canadian military is slated to gain access to the network in early 2028, yet Canada will use SpaceX rockets to launch satellites despite Prime Minister Mark Carney's ambition to reduce U.S. reliance.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
A Canadian telecommunications company signed a $2.3 billion contract with the federal government to provide satellite communications services to the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.
·Montreal, Canada
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The Hamilton SpectatorReposted by 
The Manila Times
The Manila TimesTelesat secures $2.3 billion Arctic military satcom contract, expanding Telesat Lightspeed network and capacity by 44%
OTTAWA, Aug. 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat LEO ULC, a subsidiary of Telesat Corporation (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, today announced that it has signed a $2.3 billion Telesat Lightspeed…
·Hamilton, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources21
Leaning Left12Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution63% Left
Bias Distribution
- 63% of the sources lean Left
63% Left
L 63%
C 26%
11%
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