Canada Moves to Diversify Satellite Infrastructure Away from Starlink
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
Prime Minister Mark Carney signals a shift toward sovereign connectivity as domestic operators lobby for a larger role in the nation's space economy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that Canada intends to "diversify away from" the satellite internet services provided by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, as first reported by BetaKit.
The move comes as Canadian internet providers seek to fill the gap left by the reduction in Starlink's dominance. Among those positioning themselves is Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat. Federal lobbying records reviewed by the Investigative Journalism Foundation reveal that Telesat has conducted nearly 100 meetings with federal officials to discuss new satellite programs, the "space economy," and "digital economy and Internet connectivity."
While the shift aligns with Carney’s stated commitment to "build Canadian and buy Canadian," the actual distribution of federal spending remains heavily skewed toward foreign entities. A Toronto Star analysis of government data indicates that American-controlled multinational corporations continue to hold the most lucrative federal contracts under Carney’s leadership, and the share of contract dollars allocated to U.S. companies has actually increased.