Province partners with Starlink to bring internet to remote and rural communities

The government of Ontario has announced details of a new program that will bring high-speed internet to thousands of homes in remote and rural communities across Ontario.

"I’m proud to say this is the largest high-speed investment by any province by any government in Canadian history," said Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure.

The government of Ontario has announced details of a new program that will bring high-speed internet to thousands of homes in remote and rural communities across Ontario. (Amanda Hicks)

Surma, alongside Infrastructure Ontario president and CEO Michael Lindsay, made the announcement outside of the George Armstrong Arena in Garson on Thursday.

“Fifteen-thousand premises in Ontario that don't otherwise have a plan for fibre optic, ground-based internet connectivity are going to be able to benefit from satellite internet services provided by Starlink,” Lindsay said.

Called the Ontario Satellite Internet (ONSAT) program, the $100 million investment is part of a $4 billion commitment by the province to increase access to high-speed internet for all communities across Ontario by 2025.

Starlink was announced as the successful applicant, who will partner with the province to roll out the program.

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the announcement benefits northern Ontario.

"It's not only good for the economy, but certainly good for health care," Lefebvre said.

"I think on the education side, sometimes these small schools have very challenging internet connectivity. So now with this investment, they'll be able to apply and to have access to this."

Starlink now has the green light to implement the ONSAT program, and as part of the contract, must engage with impacted Indigenous communities to ensure equal access and offer job opportunities where possible.

Lindsay said the plan is for the program to be subsidized for eligible applicants.

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"The government of Ontario absolutely is providing direct financial support in respect of these services, again, for the premises that are hardest to connect by a ground-based fibre optic sort of solutions," he said.

"Yes, the deal that we have with Starlink not only thinks about ongoing subsidy for these services, but also support with installation and ongoing maintenance and care of the homes that are going to benefit from this."

More details of the program, including eligibility, will be announced in spring 2025, with the goal to ensure all successful applicants have access to the internet by the end of next year.