Industry Canada, that country’s regulatory body, awarded a provisional license Monday to fledgling Ottawa-based satellite operator Ciel Satellite Communications Inc. The provisional license allows Ciel to proceed with its plans to provide commercial broadcasting services at the 129 degrees West orbital slot assigned for use by Canada.

There was a two-horse race for this license, with Ciel beating Canada’s only satellite operator, Telesat Canada.

The company must have a satellite in place at that location by August 2005 to prevent the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) from taking back the orbital slot.

Ciel, incorporated in Canada, set up an office in Toronto to supplement its headquarters staff in Ottawa. The startup’s majority owners consist of Canadian entities Barrett Corp., Borealis Infrastructure Corp. and Smyth Satellite Holdings. Princeton, N.J.-based SES Americom is a minority investor.

Look for an in-depth analysis of this initiative and read what the company’s prospective CEO has in mind for his fledgling company in the next issue of Satellite News. Sign up for a free four-week “mini” subscription at http://www.telecomweb.com/cgi/catalog/info?SN.