Back in 2022, Quebec signed a $130 million deal with Starlink to bring high-speed internet to remote areas.
But now, the province is working with Ottawa to create a Canadian satellite alternative, aiming for “connectivity sovereignty,” according to Gilles Bélanger, the official in charge of Quebec’s internet projects, reports the Montreal Gazette.
Quebec’s three-year Starlink contract ends in June, and the government is deciding whether to renew, recover unused funds, or shift to a Canadian-built solution. The province has invested $1 billion into fibre optic expansion, but connecting rural homes can cost up to $100,000 per household, making satellites the only viable option for some regions. Belanger said laying down fibre costs $20,000 per kilometre to remote areas.
Unlike Ontario—where Premier Doug Ford recently cancelled (then backtracked for now) a $100 million Starlink contract in response to Trump’s tariff threats—Quebec is keeping its deal for now. Bélanger said terminating the contract would bring legal issues and the province has already benefited from the agreement.
Both the federal government and Quebec have poured $2.5 billion in loans to Ottawa-based Telesat, which is relying ironically on Musk’s SpaceX to launch its first satellites into space. Service isn’t pegged to go online until 2027, where Telesat will offer its internet to resellers to then sell to consumers, unlike Starlink’s direct to consumer model.
With Telesat and MDA Space leading satellite development, Quebec sees a future where Canada owns its internet infrastructure. Bélanger warned that relying on Musk’s Starlink for too long could create risks, citing exposure of sensitive data, citing Starlink’s direct-to-cell satellite service (Rogers will be the first partner in Canada). You could say the same when using a social network from any big tech company.
While creating satellites is one thing, getting them to space consistently is a problem, admitted Bélanger. Starlink is plug and play and people can get online in minutes.
It’s unclear how the Telesat service will be able to compete with Starlink, which so far has about 6,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit, offering high-speed internet spanning the entire globe.
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Internet sovereignty is important, and I think all provinces of Canada should pull together for this.
We should invest in our own infrastructure.
Yeah I agree with this… It's never happened though, Canada doesn't want you performing. If you did, you'd leave… Most likely.
Ever wonder what CPP actually invests in?
It's like 97% US equity.
Canada doesn't even invest in Canada.
It's funny thumbs down for facts. Canada don't even want to invest in Canada.
According to online CPP materials, the CPP is 12% invested in Canada and 44% in the US, with the rest distributed around the globe. See:
https://www.cppinvestments.com/the-fund/
My original reply (with a link) is awaiting moderation, but if you go to the CPP Investment Board web site, you'll see that the CPP is 12% invested in Canada and 44% invested in the US, with the remainder spread around the globe.
Huh actually you’re right. I stand corrected. But still, Canada 86% of the time, don’t even want to invest in Canada.
United States: Approximately 36%
Asia-Pacific: Around 26%
Europe: About 18%
Canada: Roughly 14%
Latin America: Approximately 6%
Other regions: Around 1%
Initial service is expected, at the earliest, by 2027, if all goes well. Full Canadian service, as per their own most recent press release, isn’t expected into 2030 at the earliest.
Can’t see Quebec abandoning their residents to basically no service for 5 years…
Exactly
Well, Kaybek sank approx 1Bn in Telesat (read kickbacks) so can't walk that back. Wonder if it came from th 13.3Bn equalization payment.
As for the citizens? Eh, who cares as long as the
FrenchKaybecois signs are in bigger font than English.In case you were wondering, Telesat is now owned by a US VC. Well done Canada.
Plus, unlike Starlink, Telesat does not plan to offer service directly to consumers, only to resellers. This is likely to introduce additional delays and other issues.
what “Canadian alternatives”? bloody imbeciles…
With Starlink beginning to work with iPhones, are people going to ditch their iPhones? Or in an emergency, are we not going to use the phone to call for help because it's connected to Starlink?
So that's with Globalstar, but they do support Starlink.
It's all smartphones not just iPhones.
2027! Obviously the Québec government completely misunderstands the urgency of broadband and it might be 2030 before consumers can access it directly!
Well maybe Trump will be long gone by then.
Total idiocy!