SpaceX has just had its telecom license approved in Canada by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CTRC), paving the way for its Starlink internet service to become one step closer to reality.
According to Tesla North, the CRTC’s Secretary General, Claude Doucet, explained the approval for a Basic International Telecommunications Services (BITS) licence, in a letter written to SpaceX CFO, Bret Johnsen.
“After consideration of the comments received, the Commission has approved the application and a BITS licence is enclosed,” wrote Doucet, in a letter dated October 15, 2020.
Doucet notes the CRTC received 2,585 interventions regarding SpaceX’s BITS application.
According to the Secretary General’s letter, a “BITS licence does not by itself authorize an entity to operate as a facilities-based carrier or non-facilities-based service provider.”
“All entities who provide services as a facilities-based carrier must at all times comply with the appropriate regulatory framework, including the ownership and control requirements of section 16 of the Act and the Canadian Telecommunications Common Carrier Ownership and Control Regulations,” explained Doucet.
Next up, SpaceX needs to get listed as offering fixed-satellite services (FSS) in Canada with the CRTC.
Starlink is a low earth orbit satellite internet service, currently in private beta. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk previously said he hoped ‘southern’ Canada would be part of upcoming public betas.
Existing Starlink private betas are seeing download speeds over 100 Mbps. The service is targeting high speed affordable internet for those in rural areas. It’s a service numerous rural Canadians are waiting for.
Earlier today, SpaceX launched another 60 Starlink satellites into space aboard its Falcon 9 rocket, taking the total number of its satellite constellation to 835. Another planned launch of 60 Starlink satellites is pegged for Wednesday, as SpaceX shows no sign of letting up in its ambitious goal of offering affordable, high speed internet to remote locales.
You can learn more about Starlink internet and how it will work, plus pricing, detailed here.
