News Summary

Bell Canada and its northern arm, Northwestel, are lobbying the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to exclude SpaceX’s Starlink from a government subsidy program designed to aid remote Canadians in accessing the internet. Bell argues that since Starlink offers a consistent flat rate nationwide, it should not receive government subsidies. Starlink, which has previously been excluded from similar subsidy programs in the U.S., argues that such actions are anti-competitive. The proposed Canadian subsidy would provide internet providers with $25 per person per month, totaling about $300 annually. Starlink’s penetration into remote Canadian regions could secure nearly $3.15 million annually in subsidies. Meanwhile, Northwestel is collaborating with Telesat to develop smaller low-earth orbit constellations to serve remote areas, though their internet speeds are slower than Starlink’s. This situation highlights the complex interplay of international trade relations and the impact on Canadian citizens’ access to modern internet services.