The federal government is investing $85 million in satellite technology to expand high-speed Internet access across rural and remote Canada.
The funding–announced today–will see the government partner with Ottawa-based Telesat to develop a group of co-ordinated satellites in low-Earth-orbit.
The launch of Telesat’s Telstar 18 Vantage communications satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, last year. Telesat has been developing a satellite constellation — a group of co-ordinated satellites it says will provide high-speed connectivity in rural and remote communities around the globe. (Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via AP)
The government wants to achieve 100 per cent connectivity across the country by 2030 and has earmarked between $5 billion and $6 billion in new investments over the next 10 years to hit that target.
Telesat, which plans to invest $215 million into research and development over the next five years, says the partnership will bring in an estimated $1.2 billion in revenue over 10 years and create about 500 jobs.
Telesat’s corporate headquarters is shown in Ottawa. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
Telesat says it plans to eventually have 298 low-Earth-orbit satellites in its constellation.
In addition to investing in low-orbit satellites, the government says it will invest in encouraging more private-sector spending on rural high-speed Internet as well as facilitating better co-ordination among provinces and territories.
With files from CBC, CTV
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