Canada’s DIA makes Telesat Lightspeed order

Reports cited by Reuters and Bloomberg say SpaceX is prioritizing Starlink launches and turning away third-party payloads seeking rideshare on Falcon 9 beyond 2028. Canadian firms including Canada Rocket Company, NordSpace, and Wyvern say this could spur medium-lift capacity. Canada’s government backs sovereign launch capacity with nearly $225M, and a $2.3B Telesat contract uses already-secured Falcon 9 launches.

Canada’s Defence Investment Agency (DIA) signed a C$2.3 billion contract (about $1.64 billion) with Telesat LEO ULC to provide secure military satellite communications across the Canadian Arctic. The deal is Telesat’s largest, funding 69 additional Lightspeed LEO satellites, expanding the planned constellation from 156 to 225. Telesat shares rose 47% to C$76.84; MDA Space rose over 13% to C$48.10.

Canada awarded Telesat a 2.3 billion Canadian dollar ($1.6 billion) 15-year contract for secure Mil-Ka satellite communications for the Canadian Armed Forces across the Arctic, starting in 2028. Two five-year options could raise value to 2.7 billion Canadian dollars ($1.92 billion). It adds 69 Telesat Lightspeed LEO satellites, expanding the constellation to 225. Satellites will be built by MDA and launched on SpaceX Falcon 9.

Telesat LEO, a subsidiary of Telesat, won a CAD 2.3 billion Lightspeed services contract with Canada’s Defence Investment Agency to provide Military Ka-band Arctic connectivity for the Canadian Armed Forces under the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project. Two 5-year options add about CAD 200 million each, bringing total value to CAD 2.7 billion. Delivery starts in 2028.

Telesat Corp. said Canada selected it for a 15-year Arctic military satellite communications program, with two optional five-year extensions, worth up to C$2.7 billion. Telesat shares rose 32% to C$52.91 in New York; MDA Space shares rose 16% to C$49.04 in Toronto. The contract supports its Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit network and milestone payments starting Q3 2025.

Ottawa’s Defence Investment Agency awarded Telesat LEO ULC a contract worth up to C$2.7 billion to expand Telesat’s Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit satellite network for Canadian Armed Forces secure Arctic communications. The 15-year deal starts in 2028 with two five-year options (~C$200 million each). Telesat shares rose 47% to C$76.84; MDA Space rose 13% to C$48.10.