FCC Grants U.S. Market Access to Telesat for Its Global, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Constellation – Start of Telesat LEO Service Planned for 2021
OTTAWA, CANADA, November 7, 2017 – Last week the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took bold action toward improving the availability of cost effective, fiber-like connectivity, both in the U.S. and worldwide. In a significant ruling, the FCC granted Telesat's petition to access the U.S. market using Telesat's soon to be deployed global LEO satellite constellation.
Telesat has obtained worldwide rights to the use of approximately 4 GHz of Ka-band spectrum for its LEO system, which is ideal for high-performing broadband satellite networks. Telesat has a long record of industry firsts that have brought major satellite innovations to market and the company's LEO constellation will be another achievement that transforms global communications. Telesat's LEO system will both enable and accelerate the world's digital transformation by providing high-performing, cost-effective, fiber-like broadband anywhere in the world for business, government and individual users. The initial constellation will consist of around 120 satellites by 2021 and Telesat is evaluating options to expand its system beyond the initial deployment. Telesat is launching two Phase 1 LEO satellites later this year.
"The FCC's grant of Telesat's application for U.S. market access is an important milestone in our plan to deploy an advanced, high capacity, low latency LEO constellation," said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. "Telesat applauds the FCC's ruling, which will bring manifold benefits to the U.S. market including improved access to the Internet as well as the potential to enhance opportunities for U.S. workers and consumers, U.S. industry and the U.S. technology base. Next generation LEO satellite constellations have great promise for erasing the digital divide and Telesat encourages the FCC, as it reviews its spectrum allocation policies, to ensure that satellite operators have sufficient access to the spectrum necessary to deliver on that promise."
About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company's state-of-the-art fleet consists of 15 satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1, and two new satellites under construction. An additional two satellites are now being readied for launch into low earth orbit (LEO) as part of Telesat's plans to deploy an advanced, global LEO satellite constellation offering low latency, high throughput broadband services. Telesat also manages the operations of additional satellites for third parties. Privately held, Telesat's principal shareholders are Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).
Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words "will", "soon", "beyond", "plan", "potential", "promise" or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Detailed information about some of the known risks and uncertainties is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Telesat Canada's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 which can be obtained on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance, volatility in exchange rates and risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects Telesat's beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Telesat disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.
Gerry Nagler, Telesat +1 908 470-4907 (gnagler@telesat.com)