Telesat, Calian to work on data for Telesat Lightspeed

Executive Summary

• Calian Group Ltd. has entered into an agreement with Telesat LEO ULC (a subsidiary of Telesat Corp.) to design, develop, integrate, and deploy the operational data platform for the Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network.
• This contract represents an expansion of Calian's existing role in the Telesat Lightspeed program, following their 2024 selection to deliver the network's element management system (EMS).
• The new platform will serve as the secure, real-time data backbone for the LEO constellation, landing stations, and user terminals, supporting bidirectional data flows and high availability for defense, enterprise, and mobility markets.

Key Details

• Parties Involved: Calian Group Ltd. (Contractor) and Telesat LEO ULC (Client, wholly owned subsidiary of Telesat Corp.).
• Scope of Work: Calian will design, develop, integrate, and deploy the Telesat Lightspeed operational data platform.
• Technical Architecture: The platform will be built using Calian’s proprietary centralized management platform (CMP) as the architectural foundation, ensuring high performance, robust security, and extensibility across public and private cloud environments.
• Functional Capabilities: The platform will support bidirectional, asynchronous data flows and high availability across multiple domains, enabling real-time situational awareness, automated mission response, and secure data exchange between network components and operational/business platforms.
• Strategic Context: This agreement expands Calian's involvement in the Lightspeed program; previously, in 2024, Telesat selected Calian to deliver the LEO network's element management system (EMS) for monitoring network assets.
• Market Application: The network aims to provide mission-critical connectivity for defense, enterprise, telecom, and mobility markets, positioning Telesat Lightspeed as a strategic national capability for Canada.

Notable Quotes

• Michel Forest, Telesat's Chief Technology Officer: "Calian's expertise in designing resilient data systems is essential as we deliver a global network that provides mission-critical connectivity for defence, enterprise, telecom and mobility markets... With decades of proven performance in designing custom solutions for Telesat, we're confident that Calian is the right partner to implement this key platform for the Telesat Lightspeed system."
• Chris Pogue, President, Defence and Space, Calian: "Telesat Lightspeed represents a vital step forward in building Canada's strategic national capability with ubiquitous, secure connectivity that can be accessed anywhere in the world... Calian has long been committed to excellence in space and defence, ensuring customers have the right solutions built for their current and future needs."