By combining SpaceX’s Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellites with Rogers’ nationwide wireless spectrum, Rogers Communications Inc. and SpaceX will give satellite-to-phone connectivity across Canada.
The group is working together to bring 5G and 4G service to places with spotty coverage from existing wireless networks.
According to the announcement, in 2024 Rogers will begin expanding satellite-to-phone service throughout the most rural routes and unpopulated areas of Canada. Initially just short message service (SMS) messaging would be available, but eventually voice and data will be made available across the country’s most inaccessible locations, including wilderness, national parks, and rural roadways.
SpaceX and Rogers are intending to provide services in Toronto subway system
Rogers and SpaceX has pledged to provide wireless service and 911 access with 5G and 4G devices across the entirety of the Toronto subway system, and this cooperation will build on that promise while also expanding wireless coverage throughout Canada’s isolated routes.
Rogers and Lynk Global are working together to offer satellite phone service across the entirety of Canada. Lynk is currently conducting sat2phone service trials in over 20 countries and claims to be the only patented, proven, and commercially licenced satellite direct to standard mobile phone system in the world. It’s the only one of its kind that have sent and received texts in space using regular cell phones.
Through this partnership, Rogers will be the first Canadian wireless provider to offer nationwide satellite coverage to its customers.
Canadians will be able to text-in to emergency services thanks to the satellite-to-phone coverage, which is compatible with all 5G and 4G handsets and supports SMS and MMS messages.
Rogers has already invested heavily in bringing Canada the largest 5G wireless network, and this announcement expands that coverage to more than 2,000 locations. After merging with Shaw, Rogers now offers fiber-powered internet to nearly 70% of Canadian households across its coast-to-coast wireline network.
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