Canada picks Telesat and MDA to study Arctic military communications constellation

TAMPA, Fla. — Canada has contracted satellite operator Telesat and manufacturer MDA Space to explore options for a multibillion-dollar military communications network to support the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic.

The 2.92 million Canadian dollar ($2.1 million) study covers various orbital altitudes and frequencies for the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project – Polar (ESCP-P), said Stephen Hampton, Telesat’s senior director of government affairs.

“The Government has stated the program will be delivered by 2035, however, Telesat and MDA hope to deliver capabilities well ahead of that time frame,” he said via email.

ESCP-P is one of the first major procurements being run through Canada’s new Defence Investment Agency (DIA), created to accelerate acquisition timelines by bringing industry into the program definition phase earlier than in traditional procurements.


Both companies said it is too early to determine ESCP-P’s constellation architecture, which would cover narrowband and wideband across Arctic regions where connectivity is limited and geopolitical interest has been rising. 

Canada says the program will strengthen Arctic sovereignty and reinforce the country’s NORAD and NATO commitments.

MDA is also under contract to deliver 198 low Earth orbit Lightspeed broadband satellites for Telesat, which is the anchor customer for the manufacturer’s programmable Aurora platform. Telesat currently operates a fleet of geostationary satellites that provide TV broadcast and communications services.

The operator plans to deploy a couple of Lightspeed pathfinders in December 2026, followed by 96 satellites in 2027 to begin offering initial global broadband services for government and enterprise customers, including across the Arctic.

“Today’s announcement underscores Canada’s commitment to equipping our military with the tools it needs to operate effectively in the North and beyond,” Joël Lightbound, Canada’s Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, said in a statement. 

“Through this strategic investment in military satellite communications, we are not only strengthening the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to maintain secure, reliable communications in remote regions, but also supporting innovation and job creation across Canada.”

Demand for sovereign Arctic communications infrastructure is being driven by climate change, increased activity in the region and renewed competition among great powers, as geostationary satellites struggle to provide reliable coverage and existing military systems offer limited availability.