Telesat (News - Alert) reportedly will purchase a new direct broadcast satellite from Space Systems/Loral, or “SS/L.” This satellite, named Nimiq 6, will utilize the widely deployed and proven SS/L1300 platform and has a planned 15 year mission life.

 

Nimiq 6 is scheduled to begin operations in mid-2012. Bell TV, the division of Bell Canada (News - Alert) that provides satellite television service across Canada, will completely lease this new satellite for its lifetime. The Canadian company will leverage this satellite to serve the burgeoning Bell TV subscribers across Canada.

 

Ottawa, Canada-based Telesat is the fourth largest fixed satellite services operator. It provides reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers.

 

Privately held Telesat has a global state-of-the-art fleet of 12 satellites and manages the operations of 13 additional satellites for third parties.

 

Dan Goldberg, Telesat's president and CEO said in a release that his company is delighted to order a new, state-of-the-art satellite for its largest customer, Bell TV. This satellite is expected to increase Bell's ability to deliver advanced High Definition TV and other video services for their subscribers throughout Canada, Goldberg added.

 

SS/L is a provider of commercial satellites and will be the prime contractor for Nimiq 6. In its role, the company will design and build the satellite as well as supply its payload of 32 high powered Ku-band transponders.

 

Explaining the rationale to select SS/L, Goldberg said that it was selected to build Nimiq 6 following a competitive procurement process.

 

Evaluation showed that SS/L offered the best combination of technology, cost and schedule. According to Goldberg, Nimiq 6 will eventually give meaningful incremental revenue and EBITDA for Telesat.

 

“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,” Goldberg said.