[JamesK]

"There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all.”

Even that would be much better than no or next to no service that many have.

 

[JamesK]

That is quite expensive gdmaclew, and I assume those are American dollars. That's $662.50 in Canadian Dollars. People who buy electronics early always pay more. I remember paying $1000 for an early satellite receiver and around the same price for a VCR in the 80's!

A big part of the cost is the technology. It uses something called "phased array" antennas, which had previously been used for things like military radar. Those antennas consist of many antennas over the area of the panel.

 

[sodly]

I think that is about what I expected $ wise!
If u want it and NEED it it is quite reasonable for what we are getting.
I am not deterred !

 

[NovaMan]

I'm not deterred either. But I'm sure, in a years time the prices will be more reasonable. I don't think they are inviting Eastern Canadians to test yet, anyway, so it's a mute point for me.

 

[sodly]

On another site they are getting the kits shipped now in the USA !
Has anyone in Canada received a kit yet or been able to order & pay for one ?
what price in Can $?
thx in advance

 

[NovaMan]

Not what sodly is looking for, but another interesting American view point.

 

[NovaMan]

One more very interesting comparison video:

The New Internet - Space X Starlink vs Amazon Kuiper vs OneWeb | Which is best?

 

[sodly]

Repeating the Question -Anyone in Canada been contacted by Starlink re Bata Testing ???
Thx

 

[smp01]

Here is an article that speaks to hurdles of getting the beta in Canada

Initial SpaceX Starlink service in Canada will be limited - SpaceQ

The good news for those who have been waiting on the beta trial of the SpaceX Starlink service in Ca

spaceq.ca

 

[sodly]

Another step done!

SpaceX clears second hurdle in launching Starlink satellite internet in Canada - Business News

Aerospace firm SpaceX has been granted a second round of government approval to provide high-speed internet to Canadians through a constellation of satellites.

www.castanet.net

 

[sodly]

More Canadian info !

Elon Musk's SpaceX closer to launching Starlink satellite internet in Canada

Aerospace firm SpaceX has been granted a second round of government approval to provide high-speed internet to Canadians through a constellation of satellites.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[sodly]

SpaceX Starlink internet approved in Canada, beta invites imminent

SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet has officially won regulatory approval in Canada and CEO Elon Musk says that the first beta invites will begin to be sent out a matter of days from now. Known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), the decision was made well before...

www.teslarati.com

Here we go !

 

[RadioFlyer]

So why is the federal government throwing a pile of our tax dollars to Telesat if the private sector is already moving to provide service without subsidy?

Telesat and the Government of Canada Finalize $600M Agreement to Bridge Canada’s Digital Divide with Telesat’s Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation

OTTAWA, Nov. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat and the Government of Canada announced today the completion of their agreement to ensure affordable,...

www.globenewswire.com

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[sodly]

Do the different depts know wits going on ?

 

[RadioFlyer]

Do the different depts know wits going on ?

ISED both issues the spectrum licences and administers the Universal Broadband Fund. This is a clear case of govt waste.

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[Dr.Dave]

ISED both issues the spectrum licences and administers the Universal Broadband Fund. This is a clear case of govt waste.

The agreement with Telesat goes back to July 2019, long before SpaceX applied for any Canadian licences.

 

[RadioFlyer]

The agreement with Telesat goes back to July 2019, long before SpaceX applied for any Canadian licences.

And that is supposed to excuse the waste? That SpaceX and others were planning to launch LEO satellites to offer global internet was known long before July 2019.

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[ExDilbert]

I agree. Too many low orbit satellites and too much government money involved. It would make more sense to lease space from one of the other half dozen or so companies entering the business. It might even increase the chance of one of them becoming viable in the long term. It's a high cost, high risk business so Canadian taxpayers could end up footing a large expense with limited returns.

 

[Dr.Dave]

It would make more sense to lease space from one of the other half dozen or so companies entering the business.

That's exactly what the press release says. "Telesat will be eligible to receive amounts under the agreement over a ten year period once the Telesat LEO constellation enters service." Telesat is one of those half dozen private companies that launched their LEO test satellite in January, 2018. SpaceX launched their test in February, 2018.

The Canadian government is leasing a pool of capacity to provide broadband connectivity to entire communities in the far north, etc., not to individual consumers.

 

[RadioFlyer]

In July 2019 the fed govt gave Telesat a CONTRIBUTION of $85M from the Strategic Innovation Fund.

At the same time the feds announced a CONTRIBUTION of $600M as part of a $1.2B "partnership" over 10 years.

So Telesat was gifted $685M of our money (not counting the hundreds of millions handed out prior to 2019) plus another $600M in essentially guaranteed business.

This is subsidization on a massive scale.

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