<PAGE>


    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                        LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Bermuda                                               13-3867424
(State or other jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                         Identification Number)

                         c/o Loral SpaceCom Corporation
                                600 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10016
                                 (212) 697-1105
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                        of principal executive offices)

               --------------------------------------------------
                             The Loral Savings Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
               --------------------------------------------------

                                 Avi Katz, Esq.
                           Loral SpaceCom Corporation
                                600 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10016
                                 (212) 697-1105
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

               --------------------------------------------------
                                    Copies to
                              Bruce R. Kraus, Esq.
                            Willkie Farr & Gallagher
                               787 Seventh Avenue
                               New York, NY 10019
                                 (212) 728-8000
               --------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
                                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<CAPTION>
===================== ============== ==================== ==================== ==================
       Title of                        Proposed maximum     Proposed maximum
    securities to      Amount to be   offering price per   aggregate offering      Amount of
    be registered      registered (1)      share (2)            price (2)       registration fee
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------------
<S>                     <C>                  <C>              <C>                    <C>
Common Shares, $0.01    5,000,000            $5.875           $29,375,000            $7,755
par value per share
===================== ============== ==================== ==================== ==================

(1) This Registration Statement covers 5,000,000 shares authorized to be sold under the Loral
Savings Plan (the "Savings Plan"). In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement covers an indeterminate amount of
interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Savings Plan.

(2) Estimated solely for calculating the amount of the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(h)
under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common
Shares as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 2000.
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                                     PART II


                           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") by Loral Space & Communications Ltd., a Bermuda company (the
"Company"), are incorporated herein by reference:

          (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1999, filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
     as amended (the "Exchange Act");

          (b) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
     ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000, filed pursuant
     to the Exchange Act;

          (c) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on May 3, 2000,
     July 7, 2000, August 31, 2000, September 21, 2000 and September 25, 2000,
     pursuant to the Exchange Act; and

          (d) The description of the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par
     value per share, contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     10, File No. 1-14180, as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2 and 3 filed on
     January 24, 1996, March 12, 1996, March 27, 1996 and April 12, 1996,
     respectively, pursuant to the Exchange Act (the "Form 10").

     In addition, all documents filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent
to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents with the Commission (provided, however,
that the information referred to in item 402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K of the
Commission shall not be deemed specifically incorporated by reference herein).



<PAGE>


Item 8. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
-----------

     5         Opinion of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as to the validity of the
               shares to be issued.

     23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

     23.2      Consent of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe (contained in Exhibit 5).



<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of New York, State of New York, on the 14th day of November, 2000.

                                        LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS LTD.

                                        By: /s/ Avi Katz
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Avi Katz
                                            Vice President, General Counsel
                                            and Secretary



<PAGE>


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the administrative
Committee of the Loral Savings Plan has duly caused this Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of New York, State of New York, on the 13th day of November, 2000.


                                        LORAL SAVINGS PLAN

                                        By: /s/ Mandy Capogrossi
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Mandy Capogrossi
                                            (a member of the Savings Plan's
                                            administrative Committee)



<PAGE>


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Signature                                   Title                                 Date
          ---------                                   -----                                 ----
<S>                              <C>                                                 <C>
/s/ Bernard L. Schwartz          Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer   November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer)
Bernard L. Schwartz


                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Howard Gittis


/s/ Robert B. Hodes              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Robert B. Hodes


                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Gershon Kekst


/s/ Charles Lazarus              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Charles Lazarus


                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Malvin A. Ruderman


/s/ E. Donald Shapiro            Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
E. Donald Shapiro


/s/ Arthur L. Simon              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Arthur L. Simon


/s/ Daniel Yankelovich           Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Daniel Yankelovich

/s/ Richard J. Townsend          Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    (Principal Financial Officer)
Richard J. Townsend


/s/ Harvey B. Rein               Vice President and Controller (Principal            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    Accounting Officer)
Harvey B. Rein
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
-----------

     5         Opinion of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as to the validity of the
               shares to be issued.

     23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

     23.2      Consent of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe (contained in Exhibit 5).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10275}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS LTD", "cik": "0001006269", "assigned-sic": "4812", "irs-number": "133867424", "state-of-incorporation": "D0", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-49922", "film-number": "767559"}, "business-address": {"street1": "600 THIRD AVE", "street2": "C/O LORAL SPACECOM CORP", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10016", "phone": "2126971105"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "600 THIRD AVE", "street2": "C/O LORAL SPACECOM CORP", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10016"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2000
                                                      Registration No. 333-_____
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                        LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Bermuda                                               13-3867424
(State or other jurisdiction                                 (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                         Identification Number)

                         c/o Loral SpaceCom Corporation
                                600 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10016
                                 (212) 697-1105
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                        of principal executive offices)

               --------------------------------------------------
                             The Loral Savings Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)
               --------------------------------------------------

                                 Avi Katz, Esq.
                           Loral SpaceCom Corporation
                                600 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10016
                                 (212) 697-1105
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)

               --------------------------------------------------
                                    Copies to
                              Bruce R. Kraus, Esq.
                            Willkie Farr & Gallagher
                               787 Seventh Avenue
                               New York, NY 10019
                                 (212) 728-8000
               --------------------------------------------------

                                   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================== ============== ==================== ==================== ==================
       Title of                        Proposed maximum     Proposed maximum
    securities to      Amount to be   offering price per   aggregate offering      Amount of
    be registered      registered (1)      share (2)            price (2)       registration fee
--------------------- -------------- -------------------- -------------------- ------------------
Common Shares, $0.01    5,000,000            $5.875           $29,375,000            $7,755
par value per share
===================== ============== ==================== ==================== ==================

(1) This Registration Statement covers 5,000,000 shares authorized to be sold under the Loral
Savings Plan (the "Savings Plan"). In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), this Registration Statement covers an indeterminate amount of
interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the Savings Plan.

(2) Estimated solely for calculating the amount of the registration fee, pursuant to Rule 457(h)
under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common
Shares as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on November 10, 2000.
PART II

                           INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") by Loral Space & Communications Ltd., a Bermuda company (the
"Company"), are incorporated herein by reference:

          (a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1999, filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
     as amended (the "Exchange Act");

          (b) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
     ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000, filed pursuant
     to the Exchange Act;

          (c) The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on May 3, 2000,
     July 7, 2000, August 31, 2000, September 21, 2000 and September 25, 2000,
     pursuant to the Exchange Act; and

          (d) The description of the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par
     value per share, contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form
     10, File No. 1-14180, as amended by Amendment Nos. 1, 2 and 3 filed on
     January 24, 1996, March 12, 1996, March 27, 1996 and April 12, 1996,
     respectively, pursuant to the Exchange Act (the "Form 10").

     In addition, all documents filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent
to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered hereby
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall
be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from
the date of the filing of such documents with the Commission (provided, however,
that the information referred to in item 402(a)(8) of Regulation S-K of the
Commission shall not be deemed specifically incorporated by reference herein).
Item 8. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
-----------

     5         Opinion of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as to the validity of the
               shares to be issued.

     23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

     23.2      Consent of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe (contained in Exhibit 5).
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of New York, State of New York, on the 14th day of November, 2000.

                                        LORAL SPACE & COMMUNICATIONS LTD.

                                        By: /s/ Avi Katz
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Avi Katz
                                            Vice President, General Counsel
                                            and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the administrative
Committee of the Loral Savings Plan has duly caused this Registration Statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the
City of New York, State of New York, on the 13th day of November, 2000.

                                        LORAL SAVINGS PLAN

                                        By: /s/ Mandy Capogrossi
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Mandy Capogrossi
                                            (a member of the Savings Plan's
                                            administrative Committee)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature                                   Title                                 Date
          ---------                                   -----                                 ----
/s/ Bernard L. Schwartz          Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer   November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer)
Bernard L. Schwartz

                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Howard Gittis

/s/ Robert B. Hodes              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Robert B. Hodes

                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Gershon Kekst

/s/ Charles Lazarus              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Charles Lazarus

                                 Director                                            November __, 2000
-----------------------------
Malvin A. Ruderman

/s/ E. Donald Shapiro            Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
E. Donald Shapiro

/s/ Arthur L. Simon              Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Arthur L. Simon

/s/ Daniel Yankelovich           Director                                            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------
Daniel Yankelovich

/s/ Richard J. Townsend          Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    (Principal Financial Officer)
Richard J. Townsend

/s/ Harvey B. Rein               Vice President and Controller (Principal            November 14, 2000
-----------------------------    Accounting Officer)
Harvey B. Rein
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
-----------

     5         Opinion of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as to the validity of the
               shares to be issued.

     23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

     23.2      Consent of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe (contained in Exhibit 5).