News Summary

Despite Ontario terminating its agreement with Starlink, many Canadian provinces continue to depend on the U.S.-based internet service provider. Newfoundland and Labrador’s crown energy corporation maintains a $200,000-per-year contract with Starlink, while British Columbia employs Starlink for remote ambulance and wildfire response services. Alberta and Nova Scotia offer rebates for Starlink to residents in remote locations. Meanwhile, Manitoba, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories also have varying degrees of reliance on Starlink. Approximately 500,000 Canadians are estimated to use Starlink for high-speed internet in remote and semi-remote areas. A Canadian alternative, Telesat, is on the horizon with planned satellite launches in 2026, backed by a recent $C15 million federal investment. However, Telesat’s initial focus on business clients may limit its immediate impact on residential internet users.