Rogers Communications and Elon Musk’s SpaceX revealed their intentions to connect mobile phones to satellite-based services with the intention of increasing coverage to rural locations in Canada.
In the beginning, the service, which will be made available via the space company’s Starlink satellite network, would only allow users to send and receive text messages on their 4G and 5G phones in Canada. Voice and data access will be added later.
The Chief Executive Officer of Rogers, Tony Staffieri, has said that “in the future, these investments will deliver wireless connectivity, including access to 911,” even to the most remote locations.
A similar partnership was announced by T-Mobile US and SpaceX in the United States of America the previous year.
Last month, Canadian authorities got the go-ahead for Rogers to make a C$20 billion buyout of Shaw Communications. However, this was only after the business agreed to onerous terms such as paying penalties if it failed to create jobs and invest in the development of its network.
