Canada-based Telesat is a longstanding geostationary fixed satellite service operator. In 2026, Telesat continues to progress its planned Lightspeed LEO satellite constellation, with the launch of commercial services pushed out to Q1 2028. Having received authorisation to use commercial Ka-band spectrum for the constellation, in March 2026, Telesat announced the… Read more...

Canadian-based Telesat is a longstanding geostationary fixed satellite service operator. In late 2024, Telesat secured funding required to launch its Lightspeed Ka-band Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation, with its first Lightspeed satellite launches planned for the second half of 2026 and commercial service launch planned for the end of 2027.… Read more...

Industry consolidation is opening up a multi-orbit strategy for satellite operators, while regulators continue to grapple with satellite-direct-to-device service as more companies are attracted to it. WRC-23 saw a split in the satellite industry between GEO and LEO operators over interference. Read more...

Telesat operates a GEO satellite fleet and plans to launch a LEO fleet in mid-2026, with the launch of commercial services planned in 2027. The LEO Lightspeed program has faced several delays although it now appears to be back on track. Ka-band spectrum is of particular importance to both Telesat’s… Read more...

Our third iteration of PolicyTracker’s LEO Tracker reveals how the trends we first identified 18 months ago are now amplified: the importance of state investment and subsidy, the growing number of MNO partnerships and a continued flow of sectoral investment. Read more...

Regulators are beginning to tackle the controversial practice of re-using terrestrial spectrum for satellite direct-to-handset services. In terms of spectrum-related priorities, satellite firms have successfully held a 12 GHz reallocation in the US, while they fight to keep mobile out of the 6 GHz band going into WRC-23. Read more...

After decades of developing and operating its geosynchronous orbit-based satellite services business, Telesat has commenced the development of a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and integrated terrestrial infrastructure known as Telesat Lightspeed. Ka-band spectrum is of particular importance to both Telesat’s GEO and LEO programs. It also plans… Read more...

There is a large amount of traction in the satellite space with geostationary satellite operators moving into lower orbits and a raft of new and planned low-Earth-orbit constellations envisaging hundreds of thousands of new satellites orbiting the skies. These plans are being orchestrated through both inter-industry tie-ups and new operator… Read more...

OneWeb is one of the leading companies with operates non-geostationary (NGSO) low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The company has ambitious plans for its constellations but some launches have been delayed due to conflict with Russian authorities. Read more...

After decades of developing and operating its geosynchronous orbit-based satellite services business, Telesat has commenced the development of a constellation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and integrated terrestrial infrastructure known as Telesat Lightspeed. Ka-band spectrum is of particular importance to both Telesat’s GEO and LEO programs. Read more...