Telesat Successfully Launches Telstar 18 VANTAGE, Powerful Satellite Bringing New Coverages and HTS Capacity to the Asia Pacific Region

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat announced today the successful launch of its new Telstar 18 VANTAGE high throughput satellite (HTS) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff occurred on Monday, September 10th, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Built by SSL, a Maxar Technologies Company, Telstar 18 VANTAGE is the third HTS in Telesat’s global fleet with capacity that delivers a new level of performance and value for satellite broadband requirements on land, at sea and in the air.

Telstar 18 VANTAGE will replace and expand on the capabilities of Telesat’s Telstar 18 satellite with its extensive C-band capacity over Asia, its Ku-band HTS spot beams over Indonesia and Malaysia, and its five additional regional Ku-band beams. Operating from 138 degrees East, the satellite’s coverage reaches across Asia all the way to Hawaii – in both C and Ku-band – enabling direct connectivity between any point in Asia and the Americas. Its innovative Ku-band payloads of HTS spot beams and focused regional beams will provide customers operating in Southeast Asia, Mongolia, Australia & New Zealand, and the North Pacific Ocean with greater choice and flexibility to serve today’s bandwidth intensive applications.

Telesat VANTAGE satellites combine focused regional beams with powerful HTS spot beams enabling users to maximize throughout and spectral efficiency while optimizing network performance. By implementing these advances on Telstar 18 VANTAGE, Telesat customers across the Asia Pacific region now have a competitive edge in meeting growing demand for satellite broadband from aero and maritime service providers, enterprise network operators and leading telecom companies.

“Telstar 18 VANTAGE is the latest example of how Telesat’s innovative payload designs provide our customers with the advantages they need to compete successfully in today’s satellite service markets,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “Telstar 18 VANTAGE is a state-of-the art spacecraft that not only replaces Telstar 18, a satellite in wide use across Asia and the Pacific, but brings far greater capabilitis including Ku-band mobility coverage and HTS spot beams that will allow Telesat to grow our presence in the region. We would like to thank SpaceX for the successful launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE and for their dedication and professionalism throughout this mission.”

Telesat’s Newest Satellite
SpaceX successfully launched Telstar 18 VANTAGE to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) aboard a new Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff was from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Shortly after liftoff, Telesat’s newest satellite with a launch mass of 7,011 kg was deployed from the Falcon 9.

Telstar 18 VANTAGE is expected to enter commercial service after it has successfully completed orbit raising and comprehensive in-orbit testing. As previously announced, Telesat has partnered with APT Satellite of Hong Kong in the design and procurement of this new spacecraft, which APT calls Apstar-5C. The satellite has a 15 year design life.

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the company’s state-of-the-art fleet consists of 17 GEO satellites, the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 and one Phase 1 LEO satellite which is the start of Telesat’s planned global LEO satellite constellation that will offer low latency, high throughput broadband services. Telesat is also a leading technical consultant providing high value expertise and support to satellite operators, insurers and other industry participants on a global basis. Privately held, Telesat’s principal shareholders are Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).

Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are ‘‘forward-looking statements’’ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words “will”, “deliver”, “grow”, “after”, “expected to”, or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Detailed information about some of the known risks and uncertainties is included in the “Risk Factors” section of Telesat Canada’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 which can be obtained on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance, the ability to successfully deploy an advanced global LEO satellite constellation, volatility in exchange rates and risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects Telesat’s beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Telesat disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.

For further information:
Gerry Nagler, Telesat +1 908 470-4907 ([email protected])

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