Quebec was ahead of the game when it signed a $130 million deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink three years before Ontario to bring high-speed internet to remote areas.
But now, the province wants to develop a Canadian-owned satellite system to reduce reliance on Musk’s network, according to Gilles Bélanger, Quebec’s lead on connectivity projects, reports the Montreal Gazette. But the province did admit, “What we don’t have are reliable satellite launchers.” Yeah, so they’d have to still rely on SpaceX or others.
The Starlink deal expires in June, and Quebec must decide whether to renew subsidies for rural internet or seek refunds on unused funds. While Starlink provided a quick fix for about 10,000 homes in hard-to-reach areas, Bélanger said fibre optic is still the preferred long-term solution—though it costs around $100,000 per household in remote locations.
Ontario signed a $100-million Starlink deal in November but quickly canceled it this week (then backtracked) after Premier Doug Ford retaliated against U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canada. Quebec, however, won’t take the same approach, as it would likely lead to legal issues.
The province is now looking at alternatives, pointing to Canadian companies like MDA Space and Telesat that could build a homegrown satellite network. Bélanger warned that relying on one company—especially Musk’s Starlink, which will soon offer direct-to-cell service—creates risks for telecommunications security and data privacy.
For now, Starlink remains Quebec’s best option for remote internet, but the province wants “connectivity sovereignty” to avoid depending on foreign companies in the future.
