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Telesat (TSAT) Q1 2026 revenue drops 25% amid heavy Lightspeed spend

Filing Impact
(Neutral)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Telesat reported a much weaker first quarter of 2026 as it invests heavily in its Lightspeed LEO network while its GEO business faces revenue pressure. Consolidated revenue fell to $87.1 million from $116.7 million, and Adjusted EBITDA dropped to $35.1 million with margin sliding to 40.4% from 57.7%.

The company posted a net loss of $150.9 million versus a $51.5 million loss a year earlier, mainly from lower GEO revenue and a non‑cash goodwill impairment in the GEO segment. GEO revenue declined 26% to $86 million, while GEO Adjusted EBITDA fell 37% to $53 million.

Telesat invested $171 million in the Lightspeed program in the quarter and has spent about $2.7 billion cumulatively. As of March 31, 2026, GEO backlog was about $800 million and LEO backlog about $1.1 billion. Management reaffirmed 2026 GEO revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance and still expects Lightspeed to begin global commercial service around the end of Q1 2028.

Positive

  • Strong contracted pipeline and reaffirmed outlook: GEO backlog totals about $800 million and LEO backlog about $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2026, and the company is maintaining 2026 GEO revenue guidance of $300–320 million and GEO Adjusted EBITDA of $210–230 million (excluding refinancing costs).

Negative

  • Material earnings deterioration and impairment: Q1 2026 revenue declined 25% and Adjusted EBITDA fell 48% year over year, while net loss widened to $150.9 million from $51.5 million, largely due to GEO revenue declines and a substantial non‑cash goodwill impairment.
  • High leverage and upcoming refinancing need: Total current and long‑term indebtedness reached about $3.6 billion at March 31, 2026, and management states it is working with advisors to refinance Telesat GEO debt before maturities later in 2026, underscoring refinancing risk.

Insights

Q1 shows sharp GEO weakness and heavy Lightspeed spend, but guidance and backlog hold.

Telesat saw Q1 2026 revenue fall to $87.1 million, down 25%, with Adjusted EBITDA nearly halved to $35.1 million. GEO revenue dropped 26%, mainly from broadcast contract non‑renewals and some fixed broadband reductions, only partly offset by aviation wins.

Net loss widened to $150.9 million from $51.5 million, driven by lower GEO revenue and a large non‑cash goodwill impairment in the GEO segment. Adjusted EBITDA margin fell from 57.7% to 40.4%, including $7 million of debt‑refinancing costs; excluding these, GEO margin still compressed to 72% from 77%.

At the same time, Lightspeed investment reached $171 million in the quarter and about $2.7 billion cumulatively, supported by GEO backlog of about $800 million and LEO backlog of about $1.1 billion. Management is reiterating 2026 GEO guidance and expects Lightspeed global commercial service around the end of Q1 2028, while working with advisors to refinance GEO debt before maturities later in 2026.

Q1 2026 Revenue $87.1 million Consolidated revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2026
Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA $35.1 million Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2026
Q1 2026 Net Loss $150.9 million Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2026
GEO Segment Revenue $86 million GEO revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2026
Lightspeed Q1 2026 Investment $171 million Q1 2026 spending on Telesat Lightspeed (operating and capital)
Lightspeed Cumulative Investment $2.7 billion Total invested in Telesat Lightspeed as of March 31, 2026
GEO Backlog $0.8 billion Expected future GEO revenue as of March 31, 2026
LEO Backlog $1.1 billion Expected future Lightspeed cash inflow as of March 31, 2026
Adjusted EBITDA financial
"Telesat reported consolidated revenue of $87 million ... and adjusted EBITDA1 of $35 million"
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
backlog financial
"As of March 31, 2026, backlog2 for our GEO segment totaled approximately $800 million and LEO backlog2 totaled approximately $1.1 billion."
A backlog is the amount of work or orders that a company has received but hasn't completed yet. It’s like a restaurant with many dishes to serve; the backlog shows how many orders are still waiting to be finished. It matters because a large backlog can indicate strong demand or potential delays in delivering products or services.
goodwill impairment loss financial
"The increased net loss was primarily due to lower revenue and a non-cash goodwill impairment loss in our GEO segment."
Goodwill impairment loss is an accounting write-down that happens when the extra value a company recorded for acquisitions—things like brand reputation, customer relationships, or expected synergies—no longer seems recoverable. It reduces reported earnings and company equity, signaling to investors that past acquisitions aren’t delivering as expected; like discovering you overpaid for a used car because its value dropped, it can prompt reassessment of future cash flow and stock valuation.
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) technical
"Telesat Lightspeed, the company’s state-of-the-art Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, has been optimized..."
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the region of space close to Earth, roughly up to 2,000 kilometers above the surface, where most communication, imaging and weather satellites operate. It matters to investors because it is a fast-growing commercial zone — think of it as a crowded highway for satellites — creating opportunities in satellite manufacturing, launch services, broadband and data analytics while also bringing risks from congestion, debris, regulatory licensing and intense competition.
Mil-Ka spectrum technical
"Telesat announced the addition of Mil-Ka spectrum to its advanced Telesat Lightspeed network..."
Adjusted EBITDA Margin financial
"Adjusted EBITDA Margin | | | 40.4 | % | | | 57.7 | %"
Adjusted EBITDA margin shows how much profit a company makes from its core operations, expressed as a percentage of its total revenue, after removing certain one-time or unusual expenses and income. It helps investors understand the company's true earning ability from regular business activities, making it easier to compare performance over time or with other companies. Think of it as measuring the efficiency of a business in turning sales into profits, excluding irregular adjustments.
Revenue $87.1 million -25% YoY
Adjusted EBITDA $35.1 million -48% YoY
Net income (loss) -$150.9 million more negative vs -$51.5 million prior year
Guidance

For full year 2026, Telesat expects GEO revenue between $300 million and $320 million, GEO Adjusted EBITDA between $210 million and $230 million (excluding non-recurring debt refinancing costs), and total 2026 Telesat Lightspeed spending between $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion.

  

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

Form 6-K

_________________

Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Month of May 2026

Commission File No.: 001-41083

_________________

TELESAT CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant)

_________________

160 Elgin Street, Suite 2100, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 2P7
(Address of Principal Executive Office)

_________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F             Form 40-F 

 

 

EXHIBITS

The following information is furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of this report on Form 6-K:

Exhibit No.

 

Document

99.1

 

News release dated May 5, 2026 — “Telesat Reports Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2026”

1

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

TELESAT CORPORATION

Date: May 5, 2026

 

By:

 

/s/ CHRISTOPHER S. DIFRANCESCO

   

Name:

 

Christopher S. DiFrancesco

   

Title:

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2

Exhibit 99.1

Telesat reports results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026

OTTAWA, CANADA — May 5, 2026 — Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, today announced its financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2026. All amounts are in Canadian dollars and reported under IFRS® Accounting Standards unless otherwise noted.

“I’m pleased with Telesat’s performance in the first quarter of 2026, as the company made significant strides on a number of fronts,” commented Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “Our GEO results are tracking to our expectations, and we continue to make strong progress on the development of the Telesat Lightspeed constellation. During the quarter, we held further design reviews with our satellite and launch vehicle dispenser manufacturers and progressed our work on user terminals, network and satellite operations software development, and ground station deployments. As of the end of the quarter, we’ve invested a total of approximately $2.7 billion in the Telesat Lightspeed program, including both expensed and capitalized costs. We continue to expect Telesat Lightspeed to commence global commercial service around the end of Q1 2028.”

“On the commercial front, we executed a contract with Northwestel for Telesat Lightspeed service to support broadband connectivity in communities across Nunavut. That contract demonstrates the commercial appeal of Telesat Lightspeed for rural broadband, and interest remains robust at this time from government and defence users globally as well. Since announcing our plans to incorporate Military Ka-band (Mil-Ka) spectrum into the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, we’ve seen increased engagement from allied government customers, reinforcing our view that Telesat Lightspeed is well positioned to address fast-growing government demand for secure, resilient, and advanced satellite capabilities to meet mission-critical communications requirements around the world.”

“In our GEO business, we continued to manage ongoing revenue pressures with a disciplined approach to cost control, allowing us to partially mitigate the impact of topline pressure on margins and generate resilient cash flow from our existing satellite fleet. Today, we are reiterating our revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the year for our GEO segment.”

“Finally, we remain focused and are working closely with our advisors on refinancing the Telesat GEO debt before it starts to mature later this year.”

For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, Telesat reported consolidated revenue of $87 million, a decrease of 25% ($30 million) compared to the prior year (24% excluding the impact of foreign exchange), and adjusted EBITDA1 of $35 million, a decrease of 48% ($32 million) from the first quarter of 2025 (47% excluding the impact of foreign exchange). Excluding the impact of higher expenses related to our debt refinancing process, adjusted EBITDA decreased 42%. Telesat net loss for the quarter was $151 million compared to a $51 million loss in the prior year. The increased net loss was primarily due to lower revenue and a non-cash goodwill impairment loss in our GEO segment.

In our GEO segment, revenue for the quarter was $86 million, a 26% decline ($30 million) from the same period in 2025 (24% excluding the impact of foreign exchange). The revenue decline was driven primarily by non-renewals of certain broadcast contracts in 2025 and, to a lesser extent, reductions in services for fixed broadband customers, partially offset by new contracts in our aviation segment. GEO segment adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $53 million, a 37% ($34 million) decline from the comparable period in 2025 (35% excluding the impact of foreign exchange), reflecting lower revenue, partially offset by lower operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 included $7 million in expenses relating to our debt refinancing process. Excluding these costs, GEO segment adjusted EBITDA margin1 was 72% during the quarter, compared to 77% in the same period of 2025.

In our LEO segment, we invested $171 million in the Telesat Lightspeed program in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting $19 million in operating expense and $152 million in capital expenditure.

As of March 31, 2026, backlog2 for our GEO segment totaled approximately $800 million and LEO backlog2 totaled approximately $1.1 billion. GEO satellite utilization was 55% at March 31, 2026.

1

Business Highlights

        In March, Telesat announced the addition of Mil-Ka spectrum to its advanced Telesat Lightspeed network, responding to strong global demand for mission-critical Mil-Ka capacity in LEO. Telesat Lightspeed was designed from inception to meet the security and resiliency requirements of defence organizations and the addition of Mil-Ka connectivity that will be interoperable with existing government systems further enhances its ability to support rapidly expanding defence and sovereignty requirements.

        In April, Northwestel, the largest communications provider in Canada’s North, signed a multi-year contract for Telesat Lightspeed services. Northwestel plans to leverage Telesat Lightspeed to deliver low latency, sovereign broadband connectivity to communities throughout Nunavut.

        In April, we changed the name of our GEO operating subsidiary from Telesat Canada to Telesat GEO Inc. The renaming does not impact our legal structure, ownership, operations, financial results, or subsidiaries.

2026 Financial Outlook

(assumes an average foreign exchange rate of US$1=C$1.38)

Telesat is maintaining its guidance provided in March and continues to expect full year 2026:

        GEO revenue to be between $300 million and $320 million;

        GEO Adjusted EBITDA1 to be between $210 million and $230 million, excluding non-recurring debt refinancing costs; and

        Total spending on the Telesat Lightspeed program, including both expensed and capitalized costs, to be between $1.0 billion and $1.2 billion.

Telesat’s quarterly report on Form 6-K for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, and may be accessed on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval+ (SEDAR+) website at www.sedarplus.ca.

Conference Call

Telesat has scheduled a conference call on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, at 10:30 AM EDT to discuss its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. The call will be hosted by Daniel S. Goldberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Donald Tremblay, Chief Financial Officer, of Telesat.

Dial-in Instructions:

The toll-free dial-in number for the teleconference is +1-800-715-9871. Callers outside of North America should dial +1-646-307-1963. The access code is 6669954 followed by the number sign (#). Please allow at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to connect to the teleconference. In the event of technical issues, please dial *0 and advise the conference call operator of the company name (Telesat) and the name of the moderator (James Ratcliffe).

Webcast:

The conference call can also be accessed, as a listen in only, at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/7e5e286e. A replay of the webcast will be archived on Telesat’s website under the tab “Investors”.

Dial-in Audio Replay:

A replay of the teleconference will be available one hour after the end of the call on May 5, 2026 until 11:59 p.m. ET on May 19, 2026. To access the replay, please call +1-800-770-2030. Callers from outside North America should dial +1-609-800-9909. The access code is 6669954 followed by the number sign (#).

About Telesat

Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) is one of the largest and most innovative 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.

2

Continuously innovating to meet the connectivity demands of the future, Telesat Lightspeed, the company’s state-of-the-art Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, has been optimized to meet the rigorous requirements of telecom, government, maritime and aeronautical customers. Telesat Lightspeed will redefine global satellite connectivity with ubiquitous, affordable, high-capacity, secure and resilient links with fibre-like speeds. For updates on Telesat, follow us on LinkedIn, X, or visit www.telesat.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

James Ratcliffe
+1 613 748 8424            
ir@telesat.com

Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor

This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact, including financial outlook for 2026, estimated timing of the commencement of global commercial service on Telesat Lightspeed, and the growth opportunities of Telesat Lightspeed, and are “forward-looking statements’’ and “future-orientated financial performance” 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,” “expect,” “continue,” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and future-orientated financial information as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Future-orientated financial information contained in this news release about prospective financial performance, financial position, or cash flows are expected to give the reader a better understanding of the potential future performance of Telesat. Readers are cautioned that any such future-orientated financial information and financial outlook contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those disclosed herein. All statements made in this news release are made only as of the date set forth at the beginning of this release. Telesat undertakes no obligation to update the information made in this news release in the event facts or circumstances subsequently change after the date of this release.

These forward-looking statements and future-orientated financial information are not guarantees of future performance, are based on Telesat’s current expectations, and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, some of which are beyond Telesat 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 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 62% equity distribution, volatility of securities values in an industry sector where values may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond Telesat’s control, inflation, rising or prolonged elevated interest rates, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, and tariffs; risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures, impaired satellite performance or dependence on large customers; the ability to deploy successfully an advanced global LEO satellite constellation and the timing of any such deployment; Telesat’s ability to meet the conditions for advance of the loans under the funding agreements for the constellation; technological hurdles, including Telesat’s and Telesat’s contractors’ development and deployment of the new technologies required to complete the constellation in time to meet Telesat’s schedule, or at all, the availability of services and components from Telesat’s and Telesat’s contractors’ supply chains; competition, including with other LEO systems, deployed and yet to be deployed; risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation, including government restrictions and regulations, access to sufficient orbital spectrum to be able to deliver services effectively and access to sufficient geographic markets in which to sell those services; Telesat’s ability to develop significant commercial and operational capabilities; and the ability to expand Telesat’s existing satellite utilization. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors should review the other risk factors discussed in Telesat’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025, that was filed on March 17, 2026, and the Form 6-K that was filed on May 5, 2026, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval + (SEDAR+), and may be accessed on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and SEDAR’s website at www.sedarplus.ca.

3

Telesat Corporation
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
For the three months ended March 31

(in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)

 

2026

 

2025

Revenue

 

$

87,060

 

 

$

116,749

 

Operating expenses

 

 

(55,336

)

 

 

(53,042

)

Depreciation

 

 

(22,130

)

 

 

(25,909

)

Amortization

 

 

(8,611

)

 

 

(10,899

)

Other operating gains (losses), net

 

 

(82,347

)

 

 

3,950

 

Operating (loss) income

 

 

(81,364

)

 

 

30,849

 

Interest expense

 

 

(49,958

)

 

 

(56,664

)

Interest and other income

 

 

4,149

 

 

 

6,208

 

Gain (loss) on changes in fair value of financial instruments

 

 

(15,821

)

 

 

(33,412

)

Gain (loss) on foreign exchange

 

 

(17,306

)

 

 

2,480

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

 

(160,300

)

 

 

(50,539

)

Tax (expense) recovery

 

 

9,351

 

 

 

(918

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

(150,949

)

 

$

(51,457

)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Telesat Corporation shareholders

 

$

(45,495

)

 

$

(15,538

)

Non-controlling interest

 

 

(105,454

)

 

 

(35,919

)

   

$

(150,949

)

 

$

(51,457

)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Telesat Corporation shareholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(3.04

)

 

$

(1.08

)

Diluted

 

$

(3.04

)

 

$

(1.08

)

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

14,979,228

 

 

 

14,381,205

 

Diluted

 

 

14,979,228

 

 

 

14,381,205

 

4

Telesat Corporation
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

March 31,
2026

 

December 31,
2025

Assets

 

 

   

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

522,725

 

$

509,798

Trade and other receivables

 

 

58,823

 

 

58,422

Other current financial assets

 

 

426

 

 

430

Current income tax recoverable

 

 

10,054

 

 

5,952

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

265,780

 

 

257,456

Total current assets

 

 

857,808

 

 

832,058

Satellites, property and other equipment

 

 

2,885,263

 

 

2,716,708

Deferred tax assets

 

 

4,773

 

 

4,231

Other long-term financial assets

 

 

17,160

 

 

18,283

Long-term income tax recoverable

 

 

6,993

 

 

6,993

Other long-term assets

 

 

326,440

 

 

368,657

Intangible assets

 

 

435,544

 

 

442,278

Goodwill

 

 

2,158,085

 

 

2,214,575

Total assets

 

$

6,692,066

 

$

6,603,783

   

 

   

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

   

 

 

Trade and other payables

 

$

88,845

 

$

57,447

Other current financial liabilities

 

 

889,850

 

 

857,637

Income taxes payable

 

 

44

 

 

2,772

Other current liabilities

 

 

59,704

 

 

58,431

Current indebtedness

 

 

2,374,537

 

 

2,341,145

Total current liabilities

 

 

3,412,980

 

 

3,317,432

Long-term indebtedness

 

 

1,270,275

 

 

1,152,462

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

80,252

 

 

91,991

Other long-term financial liabilities

 

 

9,788

 

 

10,091

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

254,787

 

 

262,211

Total liabilities

 

 

5,028,082

 

 

4,834,187

   

 

   

 

 

Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

   

 

 

Share capital

 

 

87,117

 

 

69,997

Accumulated earnings

 

 

284,705

 

 

330,814

Reserves

 

 

147,193

 

 

130,009

Total Telesat Corporation shareholders’ equity

 

 

519,015

 

 

530,820

Non-controlling interest

 

 

1,144,969

 

 

1,238,776

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

1,663,984

 

 

1,769,596

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

6,692,066

 

$

6,603,783

5

Telesat Corporation
Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the three months ended March 31

(in thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

2026

 

2025

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(150,949

)

 

$

(51,457

)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

25,909

 

Amortization

 

 

8,611

 

 

 

10,899

 

Tax expense (recovery)

 

 

(9,351

)

 

 

918

 

Interest expense

 

 

49,958

 

 

 

56,664

 

Interest income

 

 

(4,400

)

 

 

(6,342

)

(Gain) loss on foreign exchange

 

 

17,306

 

 

 

(2,480

)

(Gain) loss on changes in fair value of financial instruments

 

 

15,821

 

 

 

33,412

 

Share-based compensation

 

 

3,129

 

 

 

3,241

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

 

 

(20

)

 

 

(3,950

)

Impairment

 

 

84,469

 

 

 

 

Deferred revenue amortization

 

 

(11,304

)

 

 

(14,407

)

Pension expense

 

 

1,125

 

 

 

1,366

 

Other

 

 

749

 

 

 

(691

)

Income taxes paid, net of income taxes received

 

 

(9,328

)

 

 

(1,580

)

Interest paid, net of interest received

 

 

(27,078

)

 

 

(31,350

)

Operating assets and liabilities

 

 

12,752

 

 

 

118,772

 

Net cash from operating activities

 

 

3,620

 

 

 

138,924

 

Cash flows (used in) generated from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash payments related to satellite programs

 

 

(74,540

)

 

 

(200,313

)

Cash payments related to property and other equipment

 

 

(43,145

)

 

 

(34,744

)

Net proceeds from disposal of assets

 

 

 

 

 

4,500

 

Investments and other

 

 

(870

)

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) generated from investing activities

 

 

(118,555

)

 

 

(230,557

)

Cash flows (used in) generated from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from indebtedness

 

 

130,218

 

 

 

340,000

 

Payments of principal on lease liabilities

 

 

(674

)

 

 

(515

)

Satellite performance incentive payments

 

 

(212

)

 

 

(190

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

 

599

 

 

 

 

Tax withholdings on settlement of restricted share units

 

 

(9,551

)

 

 

(6,788

)

Net cash (used in) generated from financing activities

 

 

120,380

 

 

 

332,507

 

Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

7,482

 

 

 

4,433

 

Changes in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

12,927

 

 

 

245,307

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

509,798

 

 

 

552,064

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

522,725

 

 

$

797,371

 

6

Telesat’s Adjusted EBITDA Margin(1):

The following table provides a quantitative reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin, each of which are non-IFRS Accounting Standards measures.

 

Three months ended
March 31,

(in thousands of Canadian dollars) (unaudited)

 

2026

 

2025

Net income (loss)

 

$

(150,949

)

 

$

(51,457

)

Tax expense (recovery)

 

 

(9,351

)

 

 

918

 

(Gain) loss on changes in fair value of financial instruments

 

 

15,821

 

 

 

33,412

 

(Gain) loss on foreign exchange

 

 

17,306

 

 

 

(2,480

)

Interest and other income

 

 

(4,149

)

 

 

(6,208

)

Interest expense

 

 

49,958

 

 

 

56,664

 

Depreciation

 

 

22,130

 

 

 

25,909

 

Amortization

 

 

8,611

 

 

 

10,899

 

Other operating (gains) losses, net

 

 

82,347

 

 

 

(3,950

)

Non-recurring compensation expenses(3)

 

 

288

 

 

 

459

 

Non-cash expense related to share-based compensation

 

 

3,129

 

 

 

3,241

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

35,141

 

 

$

67,407

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

87,060

 

 

$

116,749

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

 

40.4

%

 

 

57.7

%

End Notes

____________

1        Non-IFRS Accounting Standards Measures — Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-IFRS Accounting Standards measures. EBITDA is defined as “Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization.” Adjusted EBITDA is used to measure Telesat’s financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating income (less certain operating expenses such as share-based compensation expenses and unusual and non-recurring items, including restructuring related expenses) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA margin is used to measure Telesat’s operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as the ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are not standardized financial measures under IFRS Accounting Standards and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. Adjusted EBITDA allows investors and Telesat to compare Telesat’s operating results with that of competitors exclusive of depreciation and amortization, interest and investment income, interest expense, taxes and certain other expenses. Financial results of competitors in the satellite services industry have significant variations that can result from timing of capital expenditures, the amount of intangible assets recorded, the differences in assets’ lives, the timing and amount of investments, the effects of other income (expense), and unusual and non-recurring items. The use of Adjusted EBITDA assists investors and Telesat to compare operating results exclusive of these items. Competitors in the satellite services industry have significantly different capital structures. Telesat believes that the use of Adjusted EBITDA improves comparability of performance by excluding interest expense.

Telesat believes that the use of Adjusted EBITDA and the Adjusted EBITDA margin along with IFRS Accounting Standards measures enhances the understanding of our operating results and is useful to investors and us in comparing performance with competitors, estimating enterprise value and making investment decisions. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as used here may not be the same as similarly titled measures reported by competitors. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin should be used in conjunction with IFRS Accounting Standards measures and are not presented as a substitute for cash flows from operations as a measure of our liquidity or as a substitute for net income (loss) as an indicator of our operating performance.

2        Telesat’s backlog represents future cash inflows from capacity allocation or service delivery contracts. As of March 31, 2026, GEO backlog was $0.8 billion and represents our expected future revenue from existing GEO service contracts (without discounting for present value) including any deferred revenue that we will recognize in the future in respect of cash already received. As of March 31, 2026, the expected cash inflow from Telesat Lightspeed capacity allocation and service contracts (without discounting for present value) was $1.1 billion.

3        Includes severance payments and special compensation and benefits for executives and employees.

7

FAQ

How did Telesat (TSAT) perform financially in Q1 2026?

Telesat reported Q1 2026 revenue of $87.1 million, down 25% from $116.7 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of $35.1 million, down 48%. Net loss widened to $150.9 million, mainly from lower GEO revenue and a non‑cash goodwill impairment.

What were Telesat (TSAT) Q1 2026 GEO segment results?

The GEO segment generated Q1 2026 revenue of $86 million, a 26% decline year over year, mainly due to broadcast non‑renewals and some fixed broadband reductions. GEO Adjusted EBITDA was $53 million, down 37%, with margin falling even after excluding debt‑refinancing expenses.

How much is Telesat investing in its Lightspeed LEO program?

In Q1 2026, Telesat invested $171 million in the Lightspeed program, including $19 million of operating expense and $152 million of capital expenditure. Cumulatively, it has invested about $2.7 billion, and expects total 2026 Lightspeed spending of $1.0–$1.2 billion.

What is Telesat’s (TSAT) backlog as of March 31, 2026?

As of March 31, 2026, Telesat reported GEO backlog of about $800 million and LEO backlog of about $1.1 billion. These figures represent expected future cash inflows from existing capacity allocation and service contracts, without discounting for present value.

What 2026 financial guidance has Telesat (TSAT) reaffirmed?

Telesat continues to expect 2026 GEO revenue of $300–320 million and GEO Adjusted EBITDA of $210–230 million, excluding non‑recurring debt refinancing costs. It also plans $1.0–$1.2 billion of total 2026 spending on the Telesat Lightspeed program.

When does Telesat expect Lightspeed to start global commercial service?

Telesat states it continues to expect Telesat Lightspeed to commence global commercial service around the end of Q1 2028. During Q1 2026 it advanced design reviews, user terminals, software development, and ground station deployments to support this targeted service start.

What are Telesat’s (TSAT) refinancing plans for its GEO debt?

Telesat indicates it is working closely with advisors to refinance Telesat GEO debt before maturities begin later in 2026. The company incurred $7 million of refinancing‑related expenses in Q1 2026, highlighting active efforts to address its significant indebtedness.

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