Industry Canada awarded more than half of its newly-available satellite broadcast licenses to a company with just one satellite in orbit, reports The Globe & Mail.

Seven of the 12 available licenses went to Ciel Satellite Communications with the five remaining going to Telesat Canada, the country's largest satellite TV provider. The government agency doled the licenses out in this way to increase competition, something it hopes will consequently increase the number of products available.

Not only are Canadians signing up for TV - including HD services - via satellite but rural residents are also getting broadband Internet this way. More spectrum space is needed by the providers to meet demand.

There were 29 licenses put on the auction block by Industry Canada, but only the 12 were purchased. The agency will begin a new process in a few months to award the 17 remaining.