Bell Reveals Pricing for Direct-to-Cell Satellite Coverage: Here’s What You’ll Pay

Bell is preparing to launch its direct-to-cell satellite service, promising full mobile connectivity for Canadians in remote areas—and now we know what it will cost.

In an interview with iPhone in Canada on Tuesday, Blaik Kirby, Bell’s Group President of Consumer and Small & Medium Business, said the new satellite service will include voice, data, and text support, not just basic messaging.

He said Bell expects the performance to be stronger than rival offerings, adding that “the speeds and experience will be better than our competitor service,” though he acknowledged that “the proof will be in the pudding.”

Kirby noted that Bell’s approach will differ from competitors like Starlink because it’s being built entirely within Canada. He said the company is constructing all of its satellite base stations domestically, which means “it’s a completely sovereign satellite solution” and that user data will stay in Canada.

“As opposed to some other solutions,” he said, “your data may not be staying in Canada — who knows where it’s going?” He added that this difference will likely appeal to Canadians who prefer local infrastructure.

Kirby also confirmed pricing for the first time, explaining that Bell plans to include satellite coverage in its top two wireless plans (currently at $85/175GB and $105/250GB). Other customers will be able to add it for roughly $10 to $15 a month as a pay-per-use option. He described it as affordable compared to international roaming rates and said it will extend mobile service far beyond current limits.

Rogers charges $15 per month for any Canadian to subscribe to its direct-to-cell satellite service, which is powered by SpaceX’s Starlink. The satellite coverage is only included with its $105/250GB plan.

Right now, Bell’s cellular network covers about 21 percent of Canada’s landmass, but with the new satellite system, that figure will jump to around 56 percent, Kirby estimated. He called it a major step toward connecting Canadians who have never had reliable service, noting that roughly one percent of the population currently lacks any cellular access.

Kirby said the new coverage will deliver “a mobile-like experience” to users who previously had none. “There’s a huge part of the country now where you’re going to get connectivity you couldn’t get in the past,” he said.

Bell first announced its direct-to-cell satellite initiative earlier this month and plans to roll it out in 2026. The system will connect directly to standard smartphones—no special hardware required—allowing users to make calls, send texts, and access data even when they’re far beyond traditional network range.

Texas-based AST SpaceMobile will be supplying the satellite internet for cellular customers, with its first satellites launched into orbit thanks to SpaceX (which of course runs Starlink).