Press Releases

Mage Networks plans to leverage Telesat Lightspeed to expand broadband internet services to unserved and underserved communities in Canada

OTTAWA AND CALGARY, CANADA – January 17, 2024 – Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, and Mage Networks, a leading Internet Service Provider and technology developer, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services.

Telesat and Mage Networks will collaborate on integrating commercial and technical aspects of Telesat Lightspeed high-throughput and low latency capacity into its services portfolio. Together they will develop demand and traffic projections and network performance criteria by market segment and define optimal business and operating models, with the objective of contracting Telesat Lightspeed services.

“Mage Networks understands the hardships facing people living in remote communities that don’t have the same technological access that others do,” said Dr. Sayed-Amr (Sisso) El-Hamamsy, Co-founder, President and CEO, Mage Networks. “By integrating Mage Network’s hybrid solutions with Telesat Lightspeed LEO capacity we will be able to deliver reliable, redundant, affordable service to more people, in less time and at reduced cost.”

Through this collaboration, Mage Networks will expand broadband internet services to unserved and underserved communities in Canada, leveraging the Telesat Lightspeed Capacity Pool that was established through a partnership between Telesat and the Government of Canada.

The dedicated pool of Telesat Lightspeed rural connectivity capacity is available to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and Indigenous ISPs at greatly reduced rates on a first come, first served basis to provide connectivity for eligible communities. With the Telesat Lightspeed high performance network capacity, service providers will offer affordable broadband service plans to their end users of at least 50/10 Mbps speeds with unlimited data.

“Integrating the Telesat Lightspeed capacity pool with the Mage Networks’ innovative services portfolio will be a powerful solution to bridge the digital divide in Canada and achieve universal connectivity for all,” said Michele Beck, Senior Vice President, Canada Sales.

Designed from inception to serve the demanding, mission-critical connectivity requirements of enterprise and government users, the Telesat Lightspeed network will provide multi-Gbps data links and highly secure, resilient, low-latency broadband connectivity anywhere in the world. With the signing of MDA as the prime satellite manufacturer and all necessary launch contracts in place for global constellation deployment, Telesat is well-positioned to begin delivering unmatched, enterprise-class connectivity in 2027.