Telesat's fleet of 15 GEO satellites providing broadcast, broadband, and government connectivity across North America, Latin America, and maritime routes.
Telesat GEO Satellite Services
Telesat's fleet of 15 GEO satellites providing broadcast, broadband, and government connectivity across North America, Latin America, and maritime routes.
Description
Telesat's geostationary satellite fleet provides broadcast television, direct-to-business broadband, and government communications across North America, Latin America, and key maritime routes. As Canada's national satellite operator, Telesat has operated GEO satellites since 1969 — the first in Canada's history — and currently maintains a fleet of 15 operational GEO satellites.
Telesat's GEO capacity operates in C-band and Ku-band, serving Direct-to-Home (DTH) television distribution, cable distribution, corporate VSAT networks, government wide-area networking, and emergency/backup connectivity. The company holds orbital slots over the Americas and Pacific, giving it strategic frequency and arc rights with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Key customers include major Canadian broadcasters and telecom carriers (Bell, Telus, Rogers), US cable networks using Telesat transponders for content distribution, Latin American DTH operators, and the Canadian government. Telesat's GEO operations generate the revenue that funds development of the Lightspeed LEO constellation — its strategic next-generation platform.
Specifications
| Fleet size | 15 GEO satellites (operational) |
|---|---|
| Frequency bands | C-band, Ku-band |
| Coverage | North America, Latin America, Pacific maritime routes |
| Services | DTH broadcast, VSAT, government comms, cable distribution |
| Orbital rights | ITU-registered slots over Americas and Pacific |
| Key customers | Bell/Telus/Rogers (Canada), Latin American DTH operators, Canadian government |
| Founded | 1969 (Canada's first satellite operator) |
