Canadian geostationary satellite operator Telesat intends to stay the course with its partnership model when addressing the aviation market with its forthcoming Lightspeed Ka-band Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network.
“[W]e work with channel partners. That is our approach,” Telesat vice president, aviation Philippe Schleret assured Runway Girl Network when asked if the firm has any designs on going direct as an aero ISP with Lightspeed service.
To that end, Telesat is already in advanced talks to provide Lightspeed capacity to Viasat, as revealed by Viasat management during the firm’s FY2025 Q2 earnings conference call.
Lightspeed is also in line to be added as a “Ka-band LEO satellite network operator” on Airbus’ supplier-furnished, linefit HBCplus broadband inflight connectivity program, which would enable airlines to tap Viasat or indeed other managed service providers (SES or Hughes) for their Ka-band GEO service with a Lightspeed LEO overlay.
Additionally, Telesat is engaged in other aero-focused conversations in the market. Some are “more advanced than others”, Schleret told RGN at the APEX Global Expo in Long Beach, whilst staying mum on specifics.
Lightspeed satellites are expected to launch in mid-2026 to support a go-live date in 2027. A fully-funded program, Lightspeed is hotly anticipated in aviation due in part to Telesat’s decision not to add residential users to the mix.
“When you look at all the other LEOs, they were initially designed with targets of the consumer markets [with] residential primary,” noted Schleret. “It doesn’t mean that they cannot address the inflight connectivity or other markets.”
But Telesat has a different focus for Lightspeed, he said.
We took a very different approach, to design it for enterprise-grade services and in particular aviation. So that means all the features you would have to really support a superior service when you have hundreds of passengers onboard in the air out there from the beginning.
And then, you know, add to that all the value that a channel partner who has been in the market — not just providing a network, but providing a lot of value-added services over the last decade or two — can continue bringing around the network.
Another key benefit for airlines, said the Telesat executive, is that the laser-linked Lightspeed constellation is designed “to be able to focus a lot of capacity around busy hub airports”.
That architecture opens up an opportunity for service providers to offer Ka-band LEO-specific IFC to airlines. But Telesat is staying flexible, and happy to support multi-orbit IFC solutions that include a GEO satellite component.
For instance, the firm has conducted a lot of testing with ThinKom Solutions’ multi-orbit, multi-constellation Ka2517 VICTS antenna, an agnostic piece of hardware that can, for instance, support GEO IFC now — Viasat Global Xpress, SES Open Orbits, Eutelsat, Thales [FlytLIVE], Turksat, Yahsat, AsiaSat, and HYLAS — plus Viasat/Inmarsat HEO, SES Open Orbits’ O3b/mPOWER MEO, and then add the Lightspeed LEO layer later.
“The advantage of the Ka2517 is it can work with our [Lightspeed] constellation but it can work also on existing networks. So that gives a lot of flexibility for the service provider, gives flexibility for the airlines also in terms of choices rather than having a solution that is unique to a constellation,” noted Schleret.
And while Lightspeed won’t be available until 2027, keep in mind that “one can start deploying today with a GEO service” and either switch to Lightspeed or add Lightspeed to that solution, he said.
So it doesn’t mean the airline has to wait until we’re in service in second-half of 2027 to have a solution that will support Lightspeed. So the way we see it, yes, the constellation is not in service, but the airline can already today select the solution that puts it on the path to add Lightspeed.
Whilst Ka2517 is “our reference terminal” it will not be the only terminal to support Lightspeed, noted the Telesat executive. Electronically steered antennas will also be in play. And, if a service provider seeks to offer a hybrid Ka/Ku-band LEO-LEO offering, “we are open to it”, he confirmed.
SpaceX’s Starlink Ku-band LEO service for aviation has attracted several airline customers, including heavy-hitters United Airlines, Air France and Qatar Airways. Eutelsat OneWeb’s Ku-band LEO offering is also driving excitement and take-up in aero, including for Gogo in business aviation and Intelsat in commercial aviation.
Schleret reckons that recent LEO IFC wins validate that the aero market is gravitating towards LEO services. “And you know, we’re happy to to bring an alternative.” But whilst there is a gradual shift towards LEO, Telesat sees continued growth for GEO IFC service in aviation particularly for those who pursue a multi-orbit GEO/LEO approach.
Related Articles:
Featured image credited to istock.com/Jovan Geber
