Telesat CEO says Ottawa headcount will grow by at least 50% as satellite network expands
Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg told the Ottawa Business Journal that the company expects to increase its Ottawa workforce of about 700 employees by at least 50 percent as it builds out its Telesat Lightspeed low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation.
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Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg told the Ottawa Business Journal on November 3, 2026, that the company expects its Ottawa headcount to grow by at least 50 percent in the coming years as it builds and launches its Telesat Lightspeed satellite network.
Telesat currently employs about 700 people in Ottawa, where the company is headquartered. A 50 percent increase would add at least 350 positions to that figure, though Goldberg did not give a timeline or a specific target.
Telesat Lightspeed is a network of 225 low-Earth-orbit satellites the company is building at a total cost of $7.2 billion, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. The first test satellites are scheduled to launch in 2027, with full service planned for early 2028. The network is designed to provide broadband connectivity to businesses, governments and defence customers around the world.
Goldberg told the Ottawa Business Journal that Telesat's focus has shifted toward defence work since the company originally estimated that sector would take up about 15 percent of the network's capacity. He said the defence share "might be half the network's capacity, and it might even be more than half."
In 2026 the Canadian Armed Forces signed a contract with Telesat for Arctic connectivity services, which the Ottawa Business Journal reported as being worth $2.3 billion, with options that could bring it to $2.7 billion.
Goldberg described the network as an alternative to SpaceX's Starlink service. He told the Ottawa Business Journal: "We will be out there in every market in the world providing an alternative to Starlink."
The company faces a US$1.7 billion debt repayment deadline on December 6, 2026, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. Telesat has a launch contract with SpaceX to put its satellites into orbit.
Ottawa job-seekers can watch for openings at Telesat's Ottawa headquarters as hiring expands. The company said it expects to fill that building and will need additional space as it grows, with the headcount growth tied to the launch and operation of the Lightspeed network over the next few years.
Questions this story answers
How many people does Telesat employ in Ottawa now?
The Ottawa Business Journal reported Telesat currently employs about 700 people in Ottawa, where the company is headquartered. Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said the company expects that number to grow by at least 50 percent as it builds and launches the Telesat Lightspeed satellite network.
By how much does Telesat expect its Ottawa workforce to grow?
CEO Dan Goldberg told the Ottawa Business Journal the company expects its Ottawa headcount to grow by at least 50 percent. A 50 percent increase from the current 700 employees would add at least 350 positions, though Goldberg did not give a timeline or a specific target number.
What is Telesat Lightspeed?
Telesat Lightspeed is a network of 225 low-Earth-orbit satellites the company is building at a total cost of $7.2 billion, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. The first test satellites are scheduled to launch in 2027, with full service planned for early 2028. The network is designed to provide broadband connectivity to businesses, governments and defence customers around the world.
What role does defence work play in Telesat's business?
Dan Goldberg told the Ottawa Business Journal that Telesat's focus has shifted toward defence work since the company originally estimated that sector would take up about 15 percent of the network's capacity. He said the defence share might be half the network's capacity, and might be more than half. In 2026 the Canadian Armed Forces signed a contract with Telesat for Arctic connectivity services, which the Ottawa Business Journal reported as being worth $2.3 billion, with options that could bring it to $2.7 billion.
Who is competing with Telesat?
Dan Goldberg described Telesat Lightspeed as an alternative to SpaceX's Starlink service. He told the Ottawa Business Journal: "We will be out there in every market in the world providing an alternative to Starlink."
What financial deadline is Telesat facing?
The Ottawa Business Journal reported that Telesat faces a US$1.7 billion debt repayment deadline on December 6, 2026. The article does not describe how the company plans to meet that deadline, but reports that Telesat's defence contracts and the Lightspeed network's planned launch in 2027 are central to the company's future.
Who is launching Telesat's satellites?
Telesat has a launch contract with SpaceX to put its satellites into orbit, according to the Ottawa Business Journal. The first test satellites are scheduled to launch in 2027, with full service on the Telesat Lightspeed network planned for early 2028.
Where can Ottawa job-seekers find Telesat openings?
Telesat is headquartered in Ottawa. The company told the Ottawa Business Journal it expects to fill its current building and will need additional space as it grows, with the headcount growth tied to the launch and operation of the Lightspeed network over the next few years. Job-seekers can watch for openings at Telesat's Ottawa headquarters as hiring expands.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- Ottawa Business Journal, November 3, 2026obj.ca
- Telesat, company websitetelesat.com
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