Ontario’s decision to cancel its $100 million deal with SpaceX’s Starlink has left Northern communities uncertain about their internet future, with many calling for support of Canadian alternatives and local-driven solutions.
The first production satellites will start launching in 2026. It sucks that remote communities will have to wait a few more years, but it’s better than buying from a hostile foreign power that we’re at war with.
100%. And old school satellite internet service still exists, it just sucks by comparison. Xplorenet and the like.
Slipping my mind right now but I recently learned of an alternative company that has something similar that seems like it’s already in operation. Can’t remember if it’s Canadian or not though.
A company headquartered in Canada and “Canada” are very different things.
I can’t believe I live in an era where we celebrate blocking ourselves off from space for the sake of private interests selling higher resolution porn to rural communities. Especially when we could just be investing in public, terrestrial infrastructure.
If you are going to pitch “public, terrestrial infrastructure”, you better link to some explanation of how it would be remotely economic or feasible.
Holding out for terrestrial infrastructure means no connectivity in practice much of the time. Classic case of letting the dream of a perfect plan become the enemy of a good one.
Canada is building its own starlink like service.
https://www.telesat.com/leo-satellites/
The first production satellites will start launching in 2026. It sucks that remote communities will have to wait a few more years, but it’s better than buying from a hostile foreign power that we’re at war with.
100%. And old school satellite internet service still exists, it just sucks by comparison. Xplorenet and the like.
Slipping my mind right now but I recently learned of an alternative company that has something similar that seems like it’s already in operation. Can’t remember if it’s Canadian or not though.
A company headquartered in Canada and “Canada” are very different things.
I can’t believe I live in an era where we celebrate blocking ourselves off from space for the sake of private interests selling higher resolution porn to rural communities. Especially when we could just be investing in public, terrestrial infrastructure.
If you are going to pitch “public, terrestrial infrastructure”, you better link to some explanation of how it would be remotely economic or feasible.
Holding out for terrestrial infrastructure means no connectivity in practice much of the time. Classic case of letting the dream of a perfect plan become the enemy of a good one.
[edit: not pro StarLink by the way]
“Investing in public infrastructure” is not a term I’ve heard from any government in a long time and it saddens me.