OTTAWA — Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has added SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation to its list of foreign satellites approved to provide fixed-satellite services (FSS) in Canada.
The list was updated November 6, the same day this tweet announced ISED had granted regulatory approval for Starlink’s LEO satellite constellation.
As we’ve reported previously, Starlink’s Basic International Telecommunications Services (BITS) licence was approved by the CRTC in October, but SpaceX could not operate commercially in Canada until it either acquired spectrum for use in the country or was authorized by the Canadian government to provide broadband service through fixed satellite using spectrum to which it had access to use internationally.
In an email response to Cartt.ca’s enquiry about ISED’s tweet on Friday, an ISED media spokesperson explained: “Innovation, Science and Economic Development has provided the regulatory approval for the use of the required spectrum for SpaceX’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation Starlink in Canada. This regulatory approval will allow them to begin using their Starlink Constellation to provide high speed internet connectivity to rural and remote communities in Canada.”
Starlink’s downlink frequency bands are 10.7-12.7 GHz and uplink frequency bands are 14.0-14.5 GHz and according to the list of spectrum users, Starlink seems to be sharing frequencies with at least one other company.
While the federal government today announced a $600 million investment with Telesat to help with its LEO rollout, ISED Minister Navdeep Bains lauded the principle of competition to help keep retail prices low so he also committed to working with other providers, “as well as Starlink, and we provided that company as well with access to spectrum so they can provide those services to these communities,” he said in a press conference.
We have asked Starlink for comment on its plans for Canada in the past and have not received any response.
