Satellite operator Telesat has signed a long-term strategic co-operation agreement with NSSLGlobal to work together on the introduction of services on Telesat’s new $5 billion Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.
Initially consisting of a global mesh network of 298 LEO satellites integrated with on-ground data networks, the first Ka-band Lightspeed satellites are expected to be launched next year, with customer beta testing beginning shortly thereafter and commercial services commencing in the second half of 2023.
NSSLGlobal will integrate Lightspeed services into its value-added network at launch as per the agreement between the firms and will provide a European end-user testing and trials facility at its UK headquarters.
From this facility, NSSLGlobal will support Telesat with service testing, performance validation and customer onboarding to the Lightspeed network, as well as conducting field testing of user terminals from a range of providers.
“We have been working in close co-operation with Telesat for many years and on Telesat Lightspeed since 2019, including live demonstrations for key customers, and we are delighted to formally expand our partnership,” said Sally-Anne Ray, Group CEO NSSLGlobal.
“Telesat Lightspeed will be a game-changer for our long-standing customers who demand the most reliable, cutting-edge technologies on the market. It is the only LEO satellite constellation offering that has been specifically designed first and foremost for mobility customers on land, sea and air.”
“As cloud-based services become ever more prevalent within our customers’ networks, it is vital that we are able to support these latency-sensitive applications whilst continuing to guarantee our government and maritime customers the highest levels of security, support and the value-added services that they have come to expect from NSSLGlobal.”
