Telesat LEO satellites a $3bn business
February 14, 2019
By Chris Forrester
Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat is intent on building a constellation of (overall) 292 Low Earth orbiting satellites. Telesat already has US FCC approval to build and launch 117 of them using Ka-band, and another 117 using V-band.
It now seems that three key bidders for a contract reportedly valued at some $3 billion are considering building the satellites in Canada.
The three names in the frame are Airbus Defence & Space, Thales Alenia (of France & Italy) and US-based Maxar Technologies (which includes Space Systems/Loral). Thales and Maxar could submit a joint proposal.
According to trade mag Space News, Telesat has asked bidders to come up with complete end-to-end solutions and to include ground segment teleports and user terminals in their submissions.