Telesat Successfully Launches Anik G1 Satellite

Multi-mission satellite to support DTH services for Shaw Direct in Canada, X-band services in the Americas and Pacific Ocean Region, and C-band and Ku-band services in South America

BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER, Kazakhstan, April 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Telesat, a leading global fixed satellite services operator, announced today that an ILS Proton rocket has successfully launched Telesat's powerful Anik G1 satellite. Anik G1 will be located at 107.3 degrees West providing a range of communications services, including direct-to-home (DTH) video for Canada, X-band for government applications in the Americas and Pacific Ocean Region, and C-band and Ku-band services in South America.

The newest addition to Telesat's global fleet, Anik G1 carries 16 extended Ku-band transponders fully contracted to Shaw Direct for 15 years. Shaw Direct currently uses Telesat's Anik F1R satellite at 107.3 West for its Canadian DTH services and the addition of Anik G1 at the same orbital location will enable Shaw Direct to seamlessly add over 100 HD channels for their subscribers. Anik G1 also has three X-band transponders that are fully contracted to Astrium Services for 15 years to support government applications across the Americas and much of the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii. In addition, Anik G1 will bring new capacity to meet the growing demand for satellite communications services in South America. It will be co-located with Telesat's Anik F1 satellite at 107.3 West where it will effectively double both the C-band and Ku-band transponders serving South America from this orbital location. 

"Anik G1 will add meaningful incremental capacity to Telesat's fleet that will contribute to our anticipated growth in 2013 and beyond," said Dan Goldberg, President and CEO of Telesat. "We are pleased that a significant portion of Anik G1's capacity is pre-sold for 15 years to blue chip customers like Shaw Direct and Astrium Services. We look forward to delivering to them the outstanding quality and reliability they have come to expect from Telesat and to expanding the C-band and Ku-band services we provide to the rapidly growing South American market."

Telesat's Newest Satellite
Anik G1 was launched on an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket from the Baikonur Space Center in the Republic of Kazakhstan today at 12:36 a.m. local time. The satellite separated from the upper stage of the rocket and its signal was acquired by Telesat's tracking station in Gnangara, Australia (near Perth) shortly after spacecraft separation, about nine hours after liftoff.

The ILS Proton Breeze M was built by Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and International Launch Services provided mission management.

Anik G1 was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and is based on SSL's highly reliable 1300 platform. The satellite has a mass of approximately 4900 kg and an expected 15 year mission life. Anik G1 will enter into commercial service after it has successfully completed orbit raising and comprehensive in-orbit testing.

About Telesat (www.telesat.com)
Telesat is a leading global fixed satellite services 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 will grow to 14 satellites once Anik G1 is brought into service. The fleet today consists of 13 satellites plus the Canadian Ka-band payload on ViaSat-1. 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).

Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, the words "expect", "will", "look forward to" 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. Detailed information about some of the known risks and uncertainties is included in the "Risk Factors" section of Telesat Canada's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 21, 2013 and amended on February 26, 2013. These filings can be obtained on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. 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, volatility in exchange rates and risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. The information contained in this news release reflects Telesat's beliefs, assumptions, intentions, plans and expectations as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, Telesat disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the information herein.                                                               

SOURCE: Telesat Canada

Gerry Nagler, Telesat [phone] ([email protected])