Starlink’s satellite internet service, owned by SpaceX, is suddenly becoming much more affordable in Canada. The company has drastically lowered the price of its basic residential plan and is now offering its satellite dish for free in certain areas. This double move could be a game changer for people living in remote regions.
The entry level plan drops from $140 per month to $70 per month for speeds of 100 Mbps. Starlink is also introducing a tiered lineup:
- $70 per month: 100 Mbps
- $110 per month: 200 Mbps
- $140 per month: “Max” plan with the highest available speeds, up to 350 to 400 Mbps depending on the region, including a free Mini kit for on the go use.
A significantly lower barrier to entry
The free hardware offer is a major selling point. The standard satellite dish, which usually costs around $399, is being offered at no charge to new residential customers in eligible areas. Eligibility appears to vary depending on local demand. Some users report surcharges or plan restrictions in high demand zones.
This initiative, combined with the halving of the base monthly fee, makes the service far more competitive compared to traditional internet options in rural areas, where wired networks are rare and cellular coverage is unreliable.
A market that is still lightly competitive
Starlink benefits from a major advantage, its head start. While Amazon is preparing its own satellite service, Project Kuiper, for a theoretical launch in 2026, Starlink already operates a constellation of thousands of satellites. Alternative Canadian solutions, such as those from Telesat, are still years away from commercial deployment.
This dominant position allows Starlink to adjust its pricing strategy to aggressively capture market share, despite the controversy that sometimes surrounds its owner, Elon Musk.
For Canadians underserved by terrestrial infrastructure, Starlink is becoming a more realistic option than ever. The promise of satellite broadband, long held back by prohibitive costs, is finally entering an era of relative accessibility.
