The government of Québec will invest 400 million Canadian dollars ($316 million) in Telesat‘s new Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, Lightspeed. In return, Canadian satellite operator Telesat will invest CA$1.6 billion into Québec by moving a “significant portion” of Lightspeed manufacturing and operations to the Canadian province, according to the terms of the MoU agreement announced February 18. Telesat’s new Québec-based Lightspeed production and operations facilities will include: a Network Operating Center; a Satellite Control Center; a Cybersecurity Operations Center; an Engineering Lab; and an advanced landing station providing secure communication links to the constellation. Thales Alenia Space. The initial constellation will be made up of 298 Ka-band satellites to provide global broadband internet service starting in the second half of 2024. As part of the MoU with Québec, Thales Alenia Space will establish the final manufacturing of the advanced Lightspeed satellites at an assembly, integration, and testing facility in the province and is in discussions with Québec-based partners to plan the project.