Starlink's Subsidy Struggle in Canada

Elon Musk's Starlink is encountering significant resistance in Canada, as telecom behemoth Bell moves to prevent the company from accessing federal subsidies designed for internet providers in the nation's northern regions. Bell, along with its subsidiary Northwestel, is pressing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to exclude Starlink, arguing that the company's nationwide uniform pricing model negates the need for public funding.

The Controversy Deepens

SpaceX, Starlink's parent company, counters that such exclusion would stifle competition and lead to higher prices in remote areas, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. This dispute emerges against a backdrop of increasing anti-US sentiment in Canada, a sentiment exacerbated by former US President Donald Trump's trade policies and territorial threats.

Earlier this year, the tension was further illustrated when Ontario terminated a $100 million agreement with Starlink, citing similar apprehensions.