Telesat has received its largest-ever contract after the Canadian government awarded the company a 2.3-billion Canadian dollar agreement to provide secure satellite communications for the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic. Beginning in 2028, the 15-year Enhanced Satellite Communications Project – Polar will deliver Military Ka-band connectivity across northern regions extending from 65 to 90 degrees north latitude. Two optional five-year extensions could raise the total contract value to approximately 2.7 billion Canadian dollars. To meet the program’s requirements, Telesat will expand its Lightspeed low Earth orbit satellite constellation by adding 69 satellites, increasing the fleet from 156 to 225 spacecraft. Built by MDA Space and launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicles, the satellites will deliver secure, low-latency communications supporting both military missions and commercial users while ensuring compatibility with NATO and allied operations.
