[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-05-10] Canadian operator Telesat reported consolidated revenues of $208.4 million in its 2010 third quarter, an increase of about 12 percent compared to the same period in 2009. 
    In its latest financial results, issued Nov. 4, Telesat said its year-over-year increase primarily was the result of increased revenues from Nimiq 5 and Telstar 11N. The operator said its growth would have been even stronger if not for currency exchange rates, which consistently have been an obstacle for Telesat.
    Telesat’s third quarter was capped by the completion of an agreement in October with Astrium’s Paradigm Services for the full X-band payload on the Anik G1 satellite. Telesat concluded the procurement of Anik G1 during the previous quarter. The satellite replaced Anik F1 and expanded government services activities with its X-band payload.
    “In light of our strong financial performance through the third quarter, the investments we are making in expansion satellite capacity, a substantial amount of which is already under contract with customers for the life of the satellites, and our industry-leading contractual backlog, we anticipate achieving record levels of revenue and adjusted EBITDA this year and continued strong growth in the years ahead,” Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said in a statement.
    When asked to address rumors of an initial public stock offering or the operator becoming a possible acquisition during a conference call, Goldberg declined to comment but would not say these rumors were untrue. Loral Space and Communications owns 64 percent of Telesat, with PSP Investments owning the remaining shares. Loral is trying to divest 20 percent of Telesat supplier Space Systems/Loral in a stock offering announced earlier this year.

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