MONTREAL - Telesat says a software error that occurred during a routine manoeuvre triggered its Anik F2 satellite to shut down, causing many Canadians to lose communications for much of Thursday.
Service was fully restored overnight.
The Ottawa-based owner and operator of the communications spacecraft said Friday that the error appears to have been caused by a software update recently provided by the satellite manufacturer that was not re-loaded onto the satellite.
Many Canadians, especially those in remote areas of the Far North, lost communications after the satellite suddenly ceased operating in the early morning.
The company says anomalies like the one that occurred Thursday are highly unusual.
Launched in 2004, it is one of the largest and most powerful telecommunications satellites orbiting 35,800 kilometres above the Earth.
The satellite put itself in "safe mode" and pointed towards the sun to charge its batteries until the repair prompted it to turn around and resume its transmissions.
The disruption or "loss of earth lock" affected services for customers including Shaw Direct TV, government agencies, and The Canadian Press news agency.
Other companies that use C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band services, frequencies that are primarily used for Wi-Fi, telecommunication and broadcast services, were also affected.
Service was fully restored overnight.
The Ottawa-based owner and operator of the communications spacecraft said Friday that the error appears to have been caused by a software update recently provided by the satellite manufacturer that was not re-loaded onto the satellite.
Many Canadians, especially those in remote areas of the Far North, lost communications after the satellite suddenly ceased operating in the early morning.
The company says anomalies like the one that occurred Thursday are highly unusual.
Launched in 2004, it is one of the largest and most powerful telecommunications satellites orbiting 35,800 kilometres above the Earth.
The satellite put itself in "safe mode" and pointed towards the sun to charge its batteries until the repair prompted it to turn around and resume its transmissions.
The disruption or "loss of earth lock" affected services for customers including Shaw Direct TV, government agencies, and The Canadian Press news agency.
Other companies that use C-band, Ku-band and Ka-band services, frequencies that are primarily used for Wi-Fi, telecommunication and broadcast services, were also affected.