Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - September 2023

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Telesat Taps SpaceX for LEO Launch

Canada-based Telesat inked an agreement with SpaceX to launch
low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, as it moves to provide
commercial global broadband services in late 2027. Telesat booked
14 launches on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which will each carry up to
18 Lightspeed satellites. Dan Goldberg, Telesat president and CEO,
stated the latest constellation is the most ambitious in company’s
54-year history. He explained the company previously used SpaceX
for the launch of geostationary satellites. The company stated the
optically connected network would provide multi-Gb/s data rates
and low-latency broadband connectivity. It signed an agreement
with MDA for the construction of 198 birds last month. Alongside
the SpaceX deal, Telesat announced it is fully funded through a
combination of its own equity contribution, vendor financing and
financial commitments from Canadian authorities.

Low-Cost, Low-Weight Satellite Solution is Coming to Mexico

Satcoms company Astranis is partnering with Mexican ISP Apco Ka-band satellites ever dedicated to Mexico. Apco Networks has
Networks on what it describes as a two-satellite program to bring 19 years of experience providing end-to-end satellite connectivity
affordable broadband internet to five million people. Astranis was solutions in Mexico under the brand name Aitelecom. Astranis
founded in 2015 with the aim of connecting the world by reducing points out that Apco has the local expertise that is necessary to
the cost of internet services in rural and remote areas with small, successfully roll out connectivity services in a market as diverse
powerful satellites for geostationary orbit. These are much smaller as Mexico. It also has an innovative, long-term partnership with a
than traditional GEO machines, which can weigh multiple tons. ground solutions provider that will enable Apco to serve a unique
Astranis says the satellites, launching in 2024, will become the first role in the Mexican connectivity ecosystem. Astranis says its
satellites will allow Apco to provide a managed service for many
different kinds of connectivity — Wi-Fi sites, direct-to-enterprise,
and backhaul for rural cell sites. Apco is said to be eager to partner
with other internet service providers in Mexico, a strategy that
helps supply local solutions that fit local demand. This agreement
comes only a few months after Astranis announced plans to
launch and operate a new small broadband GEO satellite in 2024
that will provide connectivity over the Philippines. The website Data
Centre Dynamics adds that US-based mobile satellite connectivity
specialist Anuvu and Peruvian cellular backhaul provider Andesat
have also ordered satellites from Astranis.

Province Looks at Satellites to Expand Internet Access

Residents in rural and remote parts of Ontario may soon have satellite service provider will ensure that the hardest-to-reach areas
access to high-speed Internet delivered by satellite. The provincial of our province will have access to reliable high-speed internet."
government is currently looking for potential service providers.
Depending on the response, project requests could be asked this
fall. The province says satellite service could lead to some 43
thousand homes and businesses in unserved and underserviced
areas having new or improved Internet services. "Our government
has made incredible progress on filling high-speed internet service
gaps across the province, but we know more needs to be done,”
says Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, in a statement. "Where
ground-based infrastructure is currently not an option, a qualified

50 SEPTEMBER 2023