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Ontario Partners with Starlink for $100M High-Speed Internet Expansion

The initiative aims to connect 15,000 rural and northern Ontario homes and businesses by June 2025.

Kinga Surma, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure stands in the house as the Ontario Legislature resumes in Toronto on Monday, October 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX, introduces the SpaceX Dragon V2 spaceship at the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, Calif. on May 29, 2014.

Overview

  • The Ontario government has signed a $100-million contract with Elon Musk's SpaceX to provide satellite internet through its Starlink service.
  • The Ontario Satellite Internet (ONSAT) program will cover equipment and installation costs, but users will pay monthly service fees starting at $140 for residential plans.
  • The initiative is part of Ontario's broader $4-billion investment to ensure high-speed internet access across the province.
  • SpaceX's Starlink was selected through a competitive procurement process, with a focus on engaging Indigenous communities for equitable access and socioeconomic opportunities.
  • Starlink's low-earth orbit satellites offer high-speed internet with low latency, crucial for activities like streaming, video calls, and online gaming.