Internet users in these regions can already register for SpaceX’s satellite internet service. However, you will still have to wait to be able to benefit from it.
The American company Space X obtained the green signal from Canadian authorities to offer its Internet service through its Starlink satellites in the country.
Thanks to its constellation of satellites, the firm of Elon Musk hopes to offer a high-speed Internet connection to Canadians living in remote areas.
Nearly 900 satellites are already in orbit and the company plans to send new ones in the coming months to improve its coverage.
The Starlink program is in the test phase in the United States and Canada.
The firm recently offered to people who had registered on the Starlink website to test the new service.
To participate, users must purchase ground equipment to install in their homes for $499 and then pay a monthly fee of $99 to receive active service.
Reducing the price of equipment is “our toughest technical challenge”, Elon Musk revealed on Twitter.
Starlink Download Speed in Canada
In its offer, Space X guarantees download speeds between 50 Mb/s and 150 Mb/s. Recently, American users say they have reached 200 Mb/s.
In comparison, Xplornet, a Canadian competitor, offers 50 Mb/s for people living in rural areas.
During Starlink’s approval process by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Canadians criticized the project, arguing that the many satellites would create light pollution.
In response to this, SpaceX said it would reduce the brightness of low-altitude satellites.
Starlink for those without fiber access
When you get the service, Starlink will charge $499 plus tax for the Starlink kit. The latter consists of a small satellite dish with installation hardware and a Wi-Fi router. The service itself costs $99 per month. We can read in small print that the fees for this pre-order are fully refundable, but also that “paying a deposit does not guarantee the service”.
Is it worth it? Personally, I don’t take it out of need – Charter/Spectrum is good enough – but to cover Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and networks, and need to know exactly how and how well it works.
Starlink is really for people who don’t have access to traditional broadband. It is not intended for those who can already benefit from broadband by cable or fiber optic, but rather for those who have chosen broadband by other means, such as ADSL, satellite internet or even dial-up modems. If this is your case, you can consult the Starlink site.
I had ordered this internet service back in late fall 2021 … I have still not heard anything about this service at all !! If someone can send me something on this comment … please do that at least !!