Canadian satellite operator Telesat has announced the acquisition and leasing of land in Estevan, Papineauville, and Shaunavon to build new landing stations for its Telesat Lightspeed constellation.
The company said it has purchased land in Estevan, Saskatchewan and Papineauville, Quebec, while leasing land in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan. The facilities will serve as landing stations routing data between the Telesat Lightspeed low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network and major fibre and internet exchange points.
According to the company, the geographically distributed sites will strengthen network resilience and improve performance for the satellite system while supporting connectivity across Canada and internationally.
Telesat describes the Lightspeed program as the largest space initiative in Canada’s history, designed to expand the reach of terrestrial telecommunications networks and deliver secure, high-speed broadband services globally. The network is also intended to help bridge connectivity gaps in underserved regions.
The landing stations will support the integration of satellite infrastructure with terrestrial networks and are expected to play a role in enabling next-generation digital services across the country, including improved connectivity for northern and Arctic regions.
Site preparation work has already begun. The landing station in Papineauville, Quebec is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2026, while the two facilities in Saskatchewan are expected to follow by the end of 2026.
“Asit Tandon, Chief Network and Information Officer at Telesat, said the sites represent an important step in building the network’s ground infrastructure.
“We are rapidly advancing the global buildout of the terrestrial infrastructure that will be fully integrated with our LEO satellites, and these Quebec and Saskatchewan sites are playing pivotal roles in that progress,” said Asit Tandon.
“These strategically located facilities strengthen connectivity across Canada and contribute to the worldwide terrestrial foundation we are establishing ahead of our first satellite launch in December,” he added.
The new facilities form part of the broader infrastructure rollout supporting the upcoming deployment of the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, which is expected to integrate satellite communications with global fibre networks to provide broadband services in remote and urban areas alike.
