Top Satellite Communication Companies in Canada
Canada is home to several important players in the satellite communications field—ranging from full satellite operators to manufacturers of key hardware, plus service providers focused on remote or enterprise connectivity. Each brings different strengths: coverage (geostationary or low Earth orbit), hardware development, spectrum licensing, and customer focus. Below are some of the leading companies as of 2025.
1. Telesat (Lightspeed & more)
What they do: Telesat is one of the biggest names in Canadian satellite communications, operating Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites for fixed satellite services (FSS) such as television broadcasting, corporate data, backhaul, and government communications.
Key projects and strengths:
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They’re developing Telesat Lightspeed, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) broadband constellation intended to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet globally, especially to underserved or remote regions.
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GEO services remain strong; they maintain a substantial fleet and have invested heavily in ground-infrastructure and teleport systems.
Why they rank high:
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Strong government and private sector relationships, plus spectrum assets.
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A strategy combining GEO legacy business with next-generation LEO broadband gives them both reach and future potential.
2. Norsat International Inc.
What they do: Norsat (now a subsidiary of Hytera) specializes in satellite terminals, RF (radio frequency) components, antennas, and microwave communications. They serve military, maritime, broadcast, and remote-site sectors.
Strengths:
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Expertise in ruggedized hardware suited for harsh environments.
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Ability to provide both equipment and systems, often custom-tailored, which is valuable for government or specialized commercial users.
3. exactEarth Ltd.
What they do: exactEarth specializes in satellite-AIS (Automatic Identification System) data services—i.e. tracking ship movement globally using satellites. Their focus is on real-time maritime vessel tracking, with customers in government, shipping, and related industries.
Why they’re notable:
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Their service is niche but critical for maritime safety, logistics, monitoring, search & rescue, environmental compliance.
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Though not a full telecom service provider, their data services are high value and depend on reliable satellite communications infrastructure.
4. Kepler Communications Inc.
What they do: Kepler is an innovative player in Canada’s satellite communications scene, building a network focused on data and in-space communication. Their stated mission includes enabling IoT & “internet for space” applications.
Strengths:
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Emphasis on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) systems for lower latency.
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Focus on data services, inter-satellite communication, IoT, remote sensing, etc.
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Being newer, they bring more agility and closer alignment with emerging markets (IoT, small satellites, etc.).
5. Terrestar Solutions Inc.
What they do: Terrestar is unique in that it has licenses for both spectrum (notably in S-band) and satellite capacity, with a goal to provide direct-to-device (D2D) mobile satellite communications including to smartphones and IoT devices across Canada. Their service brand is Strigo.
Why they’re important:
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Canada is large and sparsely populated in many areas; enabling direct device connectivity via satellites (especially in places without good cellular or fibre access) is very strategic.
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Terrestar owns or controls valuable orbit / spectrum resources (e.g. geostationary Echostar T1 satellite capacity) which gives them a strong foundation.
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They are working with regulatory standards like the 3GPP NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network) efforts, which may enable easier integration between terrestrial mobile networks and satellite coverage.
6. Galaxy Broadband
What they do: Galaxy Broadband is a Canadian company offering enterprise broadband satellite solutions, especially targeting remote, industrial, and government clients. They are using LEO satellite networks (e.g. Eutelsat OneWeb) to deliver lower latency and higher capacity services in hard-to-reach places.
Strengths:
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Local Canadian operations with local support; this matters for many enterprise customers who require reliability, regulatory compliance, and quick response.
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Flexibility in services: they combine satellite, wireless, and sometimes fibre to meet the needs of remote camps, emergency services, remote work areas.
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Emphasis on performance (low latency, SLA-style service) rather than simply basic connectivity.
7. MetOcean Telematics
What they do: Based in Nova Scotia, MetOcean is a reseller and value-added manufacturer of satellite communications hardware and telematics systems. They are particularly known as a Canadian partner for the Iridium network, providing hardware, data, and services.
Strengths:
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Deep experience with environmental, oceanographic, remote monitoring, and government use cases.
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As an official provider for Iridium, they can deliver global coverage for voice/data/messaging in remote areas, often where other networks do not reach.
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Strong in hardware + service bundles (terminals, tracking, data services) which is important for many clients.
What Makes a Satellite Communication Company “Top”
To compare the companies more meaningfully, several criteria tend to distinguish the leaders:
| Criterion | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Coverage & Orbit Type (GEO vs LEO vs MEO) | GEO gives broad coverage with stability; LEO gives lower latency and is better for broadband and interactive services. |
| Spectrum & Regulatory Licences | Owning/controlling the right spectrum (e.g. Ka-band, S-band) and having government licences is crucial in Canada’s regulated space. |
| Hardware & Component Capability | Ability to make or supply robust antennas, terminals, amplifiers, etc., especially for remote, marine, or harsh conditions. |
| Reliability & Ground Infrastructure | Satellite is only one part; ground stations, data centres, teleport facilities, support are vital for service quality. |
| Specialization vs General Services | Some companies focus on niche (e.g. maritime AIS data, IoT) vs broad broadband or mobile services — being very good in a niche can be as valuable. |
| Pricing, Latency, SLAs | For many clients (enterprise, government, remote operations), latency and guaranteed uptime matter more than maximum bandwidth or “best marketing.” |
How These Canadian Companies Compare / Where They Shine
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Telesat remains the go-to for large scale GEO satellite capacity and also pushes into the next generation of broadband with its Lightspeed LEO project. It combines existing strengths with a strong roadmap.
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Terrestar stands out when you want direct-to-device mobile satellite service — important for connecting in places that cellular towers can’t reach.
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Galaxy Broadband is strong on delivery, especially for enterprises in remote or harsh environments: combining local support + quality of service.
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Kepler and exactEarth are more specialized: Kepler in IoT / in-space communications; exactEarth for maritime tracking/data.
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Norsat is essential in the hardware domain: antennas, terminals, components — they enable many of the other service providers.
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MetOcean plays an important role in enabling the remote monitoring, environmental, and government sectors through hardware and system integration.
Emerging Trends & Challenges in Canada’s Satellite Communications Landscape
While these companies are already strong, several trends and challenges will shape who remains top in the coming years:
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Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Growth
Many companies (Telesat with Lightspeed, Kepler, Galaxy Broadband using OneWeb) are investing heavily in LEO to reduce latency and reach remote areas more effectively. -
Integration with Mobile Networks / Direct to Device (D2D)
As standards like 3GPP’s NTN mature, the ability to integrate satellite radios into smartphones or IoT devices means companies like Terrestar will have major opportunities. -
Regulatory Environment & Spectrum Access
Canada’s large geography, Indigenous / First Nations land, Arctic regions, etc. pose both opportunities and regulatory challenges. Spectrum rights, licensing, environmental approvals are non-trivial. -
Cost vs Performance Balance
Satellite systems are expensive. The cost of launching, maintaining satellites, building ground stations, ensuring regulatory compliance, etc., means pricing remains a barrier, especially for users in rural or lower-income areas. -
Hardware Innovation and Reliability
Harsh Canadian environments (cold, remote, seasonal extremes) demand robust hardware. Antennas that freeze, terminals that must survive storms, etc., matter. Suppliers like Norsat and ReliaSat are central. -
Supply Chain & Sovereignty
Increasingly, there is interest in ensuring Canadian sovereignty over critical connectivity infrastructure. That includes domestic manufacturing, Canadian ground stations, Canadian operators etc.
A Short List: Best Companies by Use-Case
Here’s a quick guide to which company is “best” depending on what you need.
| Use Case | Best Option(s) |
|---|---|
| Remote Broadband Internet (residential or enterprise in areas lacking fibre) | Telesat (Lightspeed once fully deployed), Galaxy Broadband, possibly via partnerships with satellite ISPs. |
| Mobile / Direct-to-Device (smartphones, IoT) in Remote or Rural Areas | Terrestar, Kepler, possibly future integration from Telesat. |
| Maritime Tracking / Vessel Monitoring | exactEarth, Norsat (hardware). |
| Government / Defence / Emergency Services | Norsat, Telesat, MetOcean (hardware + service), perhaps Strigo (Terrestar). |
| Broadcasting & Traditional Satellite TV Services | Telesat remains dominant for delivering TV via satellites. |
| Hardware Components (antennas, terminals, RF systems) | Norsat, ReliaSat, MetOcean. |
Overall, the Canadian satellite communications landscape is strong and evolving. Companies like Telesat combine legacy and innovation; Terrestar is poised to break new ground with mobile-device satellite services; Kepler, exactEarth, Norsat, Galaxy Broadband, and MetOcean each cover critical needs either in hardware, niche data services, or specialized market segments.
If you’re considering using satellite services in Canada (for home, enterprise, maritime, or emergency), the best provider depends heavily on where you are (latitude, remoteness), what latency you can tolerate, the type of device(s) you use, and whether you need local Canadian support.