By Daniel J. Graeber Canadian satellite company Telesat said Friday it secured nearly 200 new low-earth satellites that are smaller and less expensive than expected. The news came the same day that SpaceX put more of its communication satellites into orbit during a Friday launch from Florida. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Nearly 200 advanced communication satellites for low-Earth orbit will be added to a network at a cost savings of $2 billion, Canadian satellite operator Telesat said Friday. Space technology company MDA Ltd. will build 198 satellites for Telestat's low-Earth orbit program. MDA's satellites are slightly smaller than their predecessors, have increased network efficiency and will lead to an anticipated cost saving of around $2 billion relative to Telestat's previous estimate. "We believe in Telesat's mission and vision and are excited that our software-defined digital satellite product will be a key enabler in meeting their goals as we work together to usher in the next generation of space-based satellite communications," said MDA's CEO Mike Greenley. Elsewhere, Telstat said it has an additional $2 billion in funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments in Canada, supporting what it called the "New Space Economy" for the country. Related