Telesat and ENCQOR 5G partner to transform and accelerate the delivery of next-generation 5G networks across Canada
Collaboration strengthens Canada’s global competitiveness as leader in highly strategic telecommunications sector and enables far-reaching economic benefits
OTTAWA, CANADA – January 11, 2022 – Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, and Canada’s ENCQOR 5G today announced a new strategic partnership. Through a shared promise from public and private sector industry leaders to advance 5G technology forward, investment and collaboration in an ultra-high-speed communications infrastructure will not only enable further developments and innovation of 5G and next-generation digital communication technologies, but will also drive economic growth for Canada and bring internet connectivity to the entire nation, including in both rural and urban areas.
In cooperation with the ENCQOR 5G program, Telesat will conduct demonstrations, trials and pilots that will advance 5G connectivity, particularly to industries operating in rural areas. This includes the utilization of the ENCQOR testbed, satellite assets, as well as national and international 5G infrastructures. The partnership will also allow both Telesat and ENCQOR 5G to collaborate with other industries, academia, and organizations across Canada and around the world.
ENCQOR 5G is a transformational Canada-Québec-Ontario program that includes anchor partners and digital technology leaders Ericsson, Ciena Canada Inc., Thales Canada Inc., IBM Canada, and CGI along with provincial coordinators that include Prompt, ADRIQ and the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). Since its inception in 2017, the organization has sought to establish the first Canadian pre-commercial corridor of 5G wireless communication technologies and unlock the massive potential of commercial and industrial industries (i.e., smart cities, e-health, e-education, connected and autonomous vehicles, on-demand entertainment/media, and IoT). In addition to securing over 1,800 high-qualified R&D jobs, ENCQOR 5G brings together a wide network of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industry, government, researchers, and academia to collaborate on the creation and commercialization of new and disruptive products, processes, and services over a five-year span and beyond.
“As a leader in satellite communications and through our close collaboration with the Canadian, Quebec and Ontario governments, we felt a partnership with ENCQOR 5G was a natural next step in fusing the satellite industry with mobile networks to accelerate the future of 5G technology,” said Stephen Hampton, Manager of Public Policy at Telesat. “We firmly believe our combined efforts will not only benefit the Canadian Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and digital technologies industries, but that the development of these services will also minimize the current connectivity divide for industrial verticals. We think this will have a marked impact on the citizens of Canada and will set the stage to export technologies and 5G networks to the global market – especially once we seamlessly integrate our highly advanced Telesat Lightspeed LEO satellite network into these 5G networks.”
“Enabling disruptive innovations requires strong collaboration, discussion, and transparency between all relevant parties – from industry leaders to government entities, research institutions, academia, telecom service providers, and satellite providers. This is exactly in line with ENCQOR 5G’s mission,” said Pierre Boucher, General Manager of ENCQOR 5G. “Having a world leading company like Telesat on board will prove momentous in expanding the geographical reach of 5G networks, and this agreement will create a strong pathway for productive collaboration between Telesat and our organization.”
About Telesat
Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat Corporation (“Telesat”) (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT) is one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators. Telesat works collaboratively with its customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions that tackle the world’s most complex communications challenges, providing powerful advantages that improve their operations and drive profitable growth.
Continuously innovating to meet the connectivity demands of the future, Telesat Lightspeed, the company’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, will be the first and only LEO network optimized to meet the rigorous requirements of telecom, government, maritime and aeronautical customers. Operating under its international priority Ka-band spectrum rights, Telesat Lightspeed will redefine global satellite connectivity with ubiquitous, affordable, high-capacity links with fibre-like speeds. For updates on Telesat, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or visit www.telesat.com.
About ENCQOR 5G
The ENCQOR 5G initiative is funded by the governments of Canada, Quebec and Ontario as well as leading industry players Ericsson, Ciena, Thales, CGI and IBM. ENCQOR 5G is coordinated by Innovation ENCQOR, and delivered in Ontario by OCI and in Quebec by Innovation ENCQOR, ADRIQ and Prompt. The program has a mandate to bring together SMEs and academia to contribute to the advancement of research, innovation and demonstration of applications through a pre-commercial 5G test bed.
Media contacts:
Telesat
Gregory FCA
Nicole Sullivan
nsullivan@gregoryfca.com
ENCQOR 5G
Frédéric Tremblay
ftremblay@tremblaycap.com
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 and Canadian securities laws. When used herein, statements which are not historical in nature, or which contain the words “will,” “expected,” “plans,” “considering,” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. 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.
These forward-looking statements are based on Telesat Corporation’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Telesat Corporation’s control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. 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 impact of COVID-19 on Telesat Canada’s business and the economic environment; the ability to deploy successfully an advanced global Low Earth Orbit (“LEO”) satellite constellation, and the timing of any such deployment; the availability of government and/or other funding for the LEO satellite constellation; the receipt of proceeds in relation to the re-allocation of C-band spectrum; volatility in exchange rates; the ability to expand Telesat Canada’s existing satellite utilization; risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation; the risk that expected benefits and growth prospects of the Transaction may not be achieved in a timely manner or at all; and risks relating to the value of the shares of Telesat Corporation and limited partnership units of Telesat Partnership issued in connection with the Transaction. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors should review the other risk factors discussed in the non-offering prospectus of Telesat Corporation and Telesat Partnership dated November 16, 2021 on the website maintained by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.
Telesat Corporation believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Additional risks are detailed in the non-offering prospectus, including, without limitation, those described under “Risk factors.” Except as may be required by applicable law, Telesat Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.