Farcast completes Telesat Lightspeed antenna technology demonstration milestone
Telesat Corporation (TSAT) and Farcast reported completing a collaborative technology demonstration program for Telesat Lightspeed on September 2, 2026.
Rhea-AI Summary
Telesat Corporation (TSAT) and Farcast reported completing a collaborative technology demonstration program for Telesat Lightspeed on September 2, 2026.
The partners validated key capabilities of Farcast's electronically steered antenna (ESA) technology, confirming an architecture that reduces hardware complexity while lowering size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) without stated performance compromise. The program culminated in an over-the-air test using Telesat's LEO 3 satellite, where Farcast's shared-aperture user terminal established and maintained end-to-end connectivity with measured performance closely matching predicted link budgets. This milestone sets up the next phase: developing a fully integrated user terminal that combines Farcast's antenna platform with the Telesat Lightspeed modem solution.
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 01 | Collaboration agreement | Positive | -1.3% | Optical connectivity collaboration with Cailabs targeted secure government satellite missions. |
| Aug 13 | Q2 earnings | Negative | -14.0% | Revenue and EBITDA declines, net loss, and higher Lightspeed spending overshadowed contract backlog. |
| Aug 04 | Defense contract | Positive | +36.3% | Canadian defense contract expanded constellation by 69 satellites and increased network capacity. |
| Aug 04 | Satellite contract | Positive | +36.3% | Additional satellite award increased MDA's Lightspeed contract value by $474 million. |
| Jul 31 | Earnings call scheduling | Neutral | -0.5% | Company scheduled the Q2 results call for August 13 with results released beforehand. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent reactions varied: collaboration news preceded a -1.29% move, major contract news preceded 36.26% gains, and weak earnings preceded a -14.04% decline.
Key Terms
electronically steered antenna (ESA) technical
link budgets technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
OTTAWA, Ontario and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat LEO ULC, a subsidiary of Telesat Corporation (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, and Farcast, a San Francisco-based startup building advanced satellite user terminals, today announced the successful completion of a collaborative technology demonstration program.
Building on their previously announced agreement, the two companies have successfully demonstrated key capabilities of Farcast's electronically steered antenna (ESA) technology through an extensive development and test program. The work validates Farcast's innovative architecture, which reduces hardware complexity without compromising performance and significantly lowers size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C).
The program culminated in an over-the-air demonstration using Telesat's LEO 3 test satellite. Farcast successfully established and maintained end-to-end satellite connectivity through its shared-aperture user terminal, with measured performance closely matching predicted link budgets. The results provide strong validation of the underlying terminal technology. This milestone paves the way for the next phase of the collaboration: the development of a fully integrated user terminal for the Telesat Lightspeed network, bringing together Farcast's antenna platform and the Telesat Lightspeed modem solution.
“The results mark an important step in validating Farcast's underlying antenna technology,” said Michel Forest, Chief Technology Officer for Telesat. “This work provides a strong foundation for the next phase of user terminal integration and development.”
“The progress we’ve made over the past four years is a testament to the incredible teamwork and close collaboration between Telesat and Farcast,” said Siamak Ebadi, founder and CEO of Farcast. “We’re very excited to build on this foundation as we move into modem integration and toward production for Telesat Lightspeed.”
Media Contacts
Monique Scotti for Telesat
pr@telesat.com
Siamak Ebadi for Farcast
siamak@farcast.com
About Telesat
Telesat Corporation (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) (“Telesat”) is a global satellite operator and leader in advanced satellite communications, redefining broadband connectivity through its Telesat Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) network. Designed from inception for interoperability with enterprise and government applications, Telesat Lightspeed delivers secure, resilient, high-performance broadband connectivity with fibre-like speeds. Its advanced, software-defined architecture operates in both commercial and military Ka-band spectrum, enabling mission-critical communications with enhanced security and protection against evolving threats. Purpose-built to meet the most demanding requirements, Telesat Lightspeed provides telecom, enterprise, aviation, maritime and defence customers with unprecedented flexibility and control to dynamically manage their own services and deliver differentiated, end-to-end connectivity solutions worldwide.
With nearly 60 years of innovation, engineering excellence and a collaborative approach to customer success, Telesat is uniquely positioned to deliver secure, scalable and future-ready connectivity solutions that help customers solve their most complex communications challenges and achieve mission success. For updates on Telesat, follow us on LinkedIn, X, or visit www.telesat.com.
About Farcast
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Farcast develops next-generation electronically steered satellite user terminals designed to significantly reduce size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) while delivering high-performance broadband connectivity. The company’s proprietary phased-array technology simplifies terminal architecture for commercial, enterprise, mobility, government, and defence applications.
Since its founding, Farcast has partnered with industry leaders including Telesat, Viasat, Anuvu, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) on technology development programs that have matured and demonstrated its core platform. The company is backed by strategic investors including Telesat, Gogo, and Lockheed Martin and is now focused on transitioning its technology into commercial production for next-generation satellite networks.
Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are “forward-looking statements’’ and “forward looking information” 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 “are,” “can,” “validates,” “provide,” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. In addition, Telesat or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, provide forward looking information, orally or in writing, which may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and news releases or oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer of Telesat. All statements made in this news release are made only as of the date set forth at the beginning of this news release. Telesat undertakes no obligation to update the statements made in this news release whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
These forward-looking statements and this forward-looking information are not guarantees of future performance, are based on Telesat’s current expectations, and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond Telesat’s control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, forecasted or implied in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this news release include, among other things, statements regarding the contemplated collaboration between Telesat LEO ULC and Farcast, the potential interoperability or integration of their respective technologies, the potential capabilities or benefits of any combined solution, and the timing, scope or success of any future activities arising from the collaboration.
Known risks, uncertainties, and assumptions include, but are not limited to: risks associated with financial factors, including swings in the global financial markets, access to capital to construct our LEO satellite constellation, the ability to refinance Telesat GEO Inc.’s debt, the outcome of litigation related to Telesat GEO Inc.’s debt and the
