Telesat adds military Ka-band to Telesat Lightspeed to meet strong global demand for defence and sovereignty requirements

Executive Summary

• Telesat announced the allocation of an additional 500 MHz of military Ka‑band (Mil‑Ka) spectrum to its Lightspeed LEO satellite network, expanding capacity for allied defence users.
• The Mil‑Ka spectrum will replace an equal amount of commercial Ka‑band on user links, leaving gateway links unchanged and having only a modest impact on overall program cost and schedule.
• The first two Lightsail production satellites are slated for launch in December 2026, with a high‑cadence launch cadence continuing throughout 2027 to support the expanded capability.

Key Details

• Spectrum Allocation: 500 MHz of Mil‑Ka added to the existing 156‑satellite Lightspeed constellation.
• Implementation Impact:
• Replaces 500 MHz of commercial Ka‑band on user links; gateway link remains unaffected.
• No adverse effect on launch schedule; modest cost impact only.
• Strategic Rationale: Meets growing global demand from NATO and allied governments for resilient, high‑throughput, low‑latency LEO communications that complement traditional GEO Mil‑Ka systems.
• Performance Expectation: Integrated Mil‑Ka capability expected to deliver “meaningfully superior performance” versus legacy Mil‑Ka platforms, enhancing security, resiliency, and interoperability for coalition operations.
• Launch Timeline:
• First two Lightspeed production satellites – launch December 2026.
• Subsequent high‑cadence launches planned throughout 2027 to populate the expanded network.
• Geographic Coverage: Persistent global coverage, including Arctic regions, providing dedicated Mil‑Ka capacity for defence and sovereignty missions.

Notable Quotes

“We’re seeing very significant global demand for a Mil‑Ka LEO satellite capability as governments respond to recent geopolitical developments… The addition of Mil‑Ka to Telesat Lightspeed will result in a substantial increase to the current global supply of Mil‑Ka capacity.” – Dan Goldberg, President and CEO, Telesat

Materiality Assessment: Material – Positive (significant operational expansion that materially enhances Telesat’s service offering to defence customers).