Source: The Ottawa Citizen

Telesat, benefiting from the booming demand in high-definition TV, will launch a satellite for Shaw Direct, the giant western Canada direct-to-home satellite broadcaster and cable company.

The Ottawa company, which has launched several new satellites recently and has more in the pipeline, said the satellite will be ready for commercial service in the second half of 2012.

Construction will start in the second half of this year.

No terms were released, but it now costs about $275 million U.S. to build, launch and insure communication satellites. The new Anik G1 satellite will also serve other customers.

Telesat chief executive Dan Goldberg has said that the ability of Telesat and Shaw to make the substantial investments that are associated with Anik G1 is the result of Industry Canada's recent decision to make the extended Ku-band available for direct-to-home television services.

Shaw has recently bought the broadcast assets of Canwest and also has licences to start a wireless service.

Telesat launched Nimiq 5 for Echostar DISH U.S. television network last year and will launch Nimiq 6 for Bell TV in 2011.

Telesat has a fleet of 12 satellites and manages the operations of 13 additional satellites.

© Ottawa Citizen