Telesat advances Telesat Lightspeed terrestrial network with new Quebec and Saskatchewan landing station sites

Executive Summary

• Telesat announced the acquisition of land in Estevan, Saskatchewan and Papineauville, Quebec, plus a lease in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan for new ground‑based landing stations.
• The sites will connect the Telesat Lightspeed LEO satellite network to major fibre and internet exchange points, enhancing network resiliency and performance across Canada.
• Construction has begun; the Quebec station is slated for completion in Q3 2026, with the Saskatchewan facilities expected by year‑end 2026.

Key Details

• Land Acquisitions:
• Purchase of parcels in Estevan, SK and Papineauville, QC.
• Lease agreement for land in Shaunavon, SK.
• Purpose: New landing stations to route data between the Lightspeed LEO constellation and terrestrial telecom infrastructure, improving latency, capacity, and redundancy.
• Strategic Impact: Strengthens Canada’s digital connectivity, supports economic growth, and contributes to national security by protecting Arctic and northern communications.
• Timeline:
• Quebec landing station construction to finish in Q3 2026.
• Saskatchewan sites expected operational by end of 2026.
• Leadership Quote: Asit Tandon, Chief Network and Information Officer, highlighted the critical role of these facilities in advancing the global terrestrial infrastructure ahead of the first Lightspeed satellite launch scheduled for December 2026.

Notable Quotes

“Telesat is rapidly advancing the global buildout of the terrestrial infrastructure that will be fully integrated with our LEO satellites, and these Quebec and Saskatchewan sites are playing pivotal roles in that progress,” – Asit Tandon, Chief Network and Information Officer, Telesat.