Elon Musk Says Starlink Would Cost ‘Less Than Half’ of Ottawa-Backed $2.14 Billion Plan

LEO satellites operate 35 times closer to Earth than traditional telecommunications satellites and thus can send and receive data faster, even in rural, remote, and Northern areas, the release said.
The PMO said its $2.14 billion investment will create 2,000 jobs across Canada through Telesat and its supply chain, including MDA Space, the prime contractor for developing and manufacturing the satellites.
Additionally, the Telesat Lightspeed network will enhance Canada’s satellite communications capabilities, boosting national security. This includes supporting the modernization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the PMO’s press release said.
In 2020, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Canada’s telecommunications regulator, had granted a licence to Musk’s company SpaceX that allowed it to bring its Starlink program to rural Canadians.
“This loan will help build a world-class Canadian made satellite network and supports thousands of jobs in Quebec!” Champagne said in a Sept. 14 post on X. “Now that’s common sense!”