Telesat has selected Space Systems /Loral as the prime contractor to construct its new Nimiq6 satellite. The spacecraft, which will be located at 91W, will be based on SS/L’s 1300 bus and contain 32 Ku-band transponders. Financial details were not…
Telesat has selected Space Systems /Loral as the prime contractor to construct its new Nimiq6 satellite. The spacecraft, which will be located at 91W, will be based on SS/L’s 1300 bus and contain 32 Ku-band transponders. Financial details were not disclosed.
As with Nimiq 3 and 4, the new satellite is to be fully leased for its lifetime by Bell TV. The Canadian company will use the additional capacity to bolster its rollout of high-definition services.
Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s president and CEO, commented: “SS/L was selected to build Nimiq 6 following a competitive procurement process as they offered the best combination of technology, cost and schedule. Nimiq 6 will result in meaningful incremental revenue and EBITDA for Telesat and, given that Bell TV has leased all of the satellite’s capacity for its expected lifetime, it significantly increases Telesat’s already industry leading contractual backlog to revenue ratio.”
Loral Space & Communications owns Space Systems /Loral and a 64% controlling stake in Telesat. Alongside the Canadian pension fund PSP, Loral acquired Telesat from Bell Canada Enterprises for approximately C$3.25bn back in October 2007.
