SSL Selected to Provide New High Throughput Satellite to Telesat

PALO ALTO, CA, Dec. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Space Systems Loral (SSL), a leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that it has been selected to provide an advanced communications satellite to Telesat, one of the world's top satellite operators. The new satellite called Telstar 18 VANTAGE will operate from 138 degrees East and significantly expand Telesat's capacity over the Asia Pacific region through a combination of broad regional beams and high throughput spot-beams. 

"This is the second satellite contract that Telesat has awarded to SSL this quarter," said John Celli, president, SSL. "Our companies have a long history of working together to help expand the world's communications infrastructure and we are honored that Telesat continues to place its trust in SSL for its most advanced satellite systems."  

Equipped with C and Ku-band transponders, Telstar 18 VANTAGE will offer superior performance for broadcasters, telecom service providers and enterprise networks on the ground, in the air and at sea. Its broad C-band coverage will extend across the Asia region to Hawaii enabling direct connectivity between any point in Asia and the Americas. Its Ku-band capacity will expand on Telesat's coverage of growing satellite service markets in China, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean.

"The strong relationship between Telesat and SSL has enabled our engineering teams to collaborate on a highly innovative design for Telstar 18 VANTAGE that will meet the growing needs of our Asia customers," said Dan Goldberg, Telesat's President and CEO. "Telesat's contract award was the result of SSL's strong technical and commercial expertise, along with their ability to deliver on schedule. We look forward to working with them on the Telstar 18 VANTAGE program and expanding Telesat's capacity over the Asia region."

Telstar 18 VANTAGE is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 platform, which provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. Scheduled for launch in 2018, Telesat's newest satellite is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more.

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Telesat is a leading global satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite-delivered communications solutions worldwide to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with offices and facilities around the world, the Company's state-of-the-art fleet consists of 15 satellites, including the newly launched Telstar 12 VANTAGE, plus the Canadian payload on ViaSat-1 with two new satellites under construction. Telesat also manages the operations of additional satellites for third parties. Privately held, Telesat's principal shareholders are Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board and Loral Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL).

About SSL
Space Systems Loral (SSL) is a leading provider of commercial satellites with broad expertise to support satellite operators and innovative space related missions. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft for services such as direct-to-home television, video content distribution, broadband Internet, mobile communications, and Earth observation.  As a Silicon Valley innovator for more than 50 years, SSL's advanced product line also includes state-of-the-art small satellites, and sophisticated robotics and automation solutions for remote operations.  For more information, visit www.sslmda.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and information, which reflect the current view of Space Systems Loral (SSL) with respect to future events and financial performance.  When used in this news release, the words "believes", "expects", "plans", "may", "will", "would", "could", "should", "anticipates", "estimates", "project", "intend" or "outlook" or other variations of these words or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance; risks associated with satellite manufacturing, including competition, cyclicality of SSL's end-user markets, contractual risks, creditworthiness of customers, performance of suppliers and management of SSL's factory and personnel; risk associated with financial factors such as volatility in exchange rates, increases in interest rates, restrictions on access to capital, and swings in global financial markets; risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation, including export controls and economic sanctions; and other risks, including litigation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects SSL's beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, SSL disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.

SOURCE SSL