Canada is racing to fix one of its hardest military problems: reliable communications in the Arctic. Bgen (retd) Michael Adamson explains how Telesat’s Lightspeed network is being built to deliver secure, low-latency connectivity for the Canadian Armed Forces, allies, and government missions that cannot afford to lose the signal.

Steve Ladurantaye sits down with Michael Adamson, Telesat’s Director of Defense Strategy and Business Development, to unpack why the new satellite communications contract is such a big deal for Canada’s defence posture.

From the geography problem of geosynchronous satellites to the promise of low Earth orbit coverage north of 65 degrees, Michael breaks down why the old model falls short and how a hybrid LEO and MEO architecture changes the game.

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Michael also explains how Telesat Lightspeed is designed to support everything from command and control to uncrewed systems, and why the concept of getting “inside the OODA loop” matters more than ever in modern defense. He shares the launch timeline, the rapid cadence of satellites going up starting in 2027, and why this program could become a bridge for allies looking for a trusted sovereign solution before their own systems come online.

This episode is especially relevant if you care about defence technology, Arctic security, satellite communications, or how governments are adapting to a more connected battlefield. If you want to understand where military communications are headed next, this is essential listening.