Telesat, Newtec Put LEO Satellite to the Test

SINT-NIKLAAS, Belgium -- Newtec, a specialist in the design, development and manufacture of equipment for satellite communications, today announced its modems have become the first to be successfully tested over-the-air on Telesat’s inaugural Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite.

Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite was launched on January 12, 2018, and the company is now conducting live demonstrations of its capabilities – an important milestone in Telesat’s plans to deploy a global LEO constellation that will revolutionize broadband communications around the world. Testing of the Ka-band payload is ongoing and Newtec’s technology is being used to demonstrate different service scenarios.

The latest trials saw test user traffic successfully passed over the satellite via Newtec modems, showing that flawless operation without packet loss can be achieved on LEO constellations.

Newtec’s modems were installed for the project at Telesat’s Allan Park facility in September. Telesat expects to conduct live phase 1 LEO testing with its customers in the coming weeks.

Telesat’s unique LEO constellation will combine the company’s global spectrum rights in Ka-band with Telesat’s proprietary LEO architecture to transform global communications.

Telesat