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Satnews Daily
May 22nd, 2018

Live Demos on Telesat's Phase 1 LEO Satellite Now Underway


Telesat has reported that the orbit raising and payload testing on the company's Phase 1 LEO satellite have been completed and  the spacecraft is now ready to support live demonstrations of its capabilities.
 


Artistic rendition of Telesat's Phase 1 LEO satellite.

Image is courtesy of the satellite's builder, SSTL.

Testing of Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO is an important milestone in the company’s plans to deploy a global LEO constellation that will, according to the company, revolutionize broadband communications services around the world. As previously announced, satellite industry leaders including Global Eagle Entertainment, OmniAccess and Optus Satellite have agreed to collaborate in live, over-the-air trials on Telesat Phase 1 LEO. Other companies that serve major markets of interest to Telesat will also be participating.
 
Once fully deployed, Telesat’s LEO constellation is designed to deliver transformative, fiber-like broadband for commercial and government customers throughout the world. The initial constellation will consist of approximately 120 state-of-the-art satellites providing full global coverage and Telesat is evaluating options to expand its system beyond this initial configuration.
 
Phase 1 testing will enable satellite leaders to experience key advantages of the Telesat’s LEO system — including ultra-low latency and high speeds — and assess the role Telesat’s constellation can play in their next-generation broadband networks. In addition to the satellite testing, Telesat and participating companies will explore longer-term joint services and market development plans focusing on Telesat’s LEO program.

Dave Wendling, Telesat’s CTO, said that the company is delighted to have signed a number of highly respected, industry leaders who are eager to participate in live trials on Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite. Telesat’s LEO constellation will deliver far higher data rates with superior latency at low cost. The broadband experience of Telesat’s LEO system will be on par with advanced terrestrial networks — and, for the first time ever, it will enable the availability of high performing broadband on a global basis.