Those who have lived through the Cold War (a war that was cold on the western front but remained active through proxy wars in the east) are acutely aware that unfolding geopolitical events are reminiscent of an earlier time, where space was the next frontier. Canada is among the countries investing heavily in the launch of hundreds of new satellites that will support communication and are what Prime Minister Mark Carney referred to as “fundamental” to the country’s sovereign defence capabilities and autonomy.
Canada intends on competing with companies like Starlink when it comes to a made-in-Canada low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network that will launch by next year to expand internet services across the nation, supporting improved access for Canadians as well as military operations and natural disaster response.
In December, a new strategic partnership was signed between the federal government and Canadian firms Telesat and MDA Space to develop military satellite communications for the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic, the Enhanced Satellite Communications Project—Polar (ESCP-P) project, a $5 billion project that is expected to come online in 2037 as part of Canada’s multi-billion-dollar NORAD modernization project.
One project, Telesat Lightspeed, will be composed of nearly 200 LEO satellites, which was made possible by a $2.14 billion federal loan in 2024 that aided the expansion of internet and 5G connectivity across Canada, particularly in underserved areas like remote and Indigenous communities.
The LEO satellites operate at a 1,300-kilometre altitude, above operators like Starlink, which dominates the 600-kilometre altitude. By operating higher, Telesat avoids any “traffic jams” in the sky.
The project has brought together what the Prime Minister called “like-minded partners who possess similar capabilities to build out a deep and resilient system we can all share and control in our territories,” removing reliance on companies like Starlink to fill the gaps in service.
