Ontario Awards SpaceX $100 Million for Rural Internet Access
Ontario has awarded a $100 million contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide satellite internet service to 15,000 remote households, marking the province’s latest effort to expand rural connectivity.
The program, called ONSAT (Ontario Satellite Internet), will deploy SpaceX’s Starlink technology to reach Ontario’s hardest-to-reach communities starting June next year, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma announced on Friday.
Under the agreement, the provincial government will fund equipment and installation costs, while residents will be responsible for monthly service fees.
Infrastructure Ontario CEO Michael Lindsay said SpaceX was selected following a competitive evaluation process. The contract includes provisions for Indigenous community engagement and economic opportunities.
SpaceX currently launches approximately 40 satellites weekly into low Earth orbit at 550 kilometers altitude to maintain its Starlink network.
The initiative is part of Ontario’s broader $4 billion investment in rural internet infrastructure. The province has already invested $2.5 billion across 270 projects, connecting 100,000 residents to high-speed internet.
Eligible residents can begin registration in the spring.
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