Ford government inks $100M deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink system
The Ford government has signed a deal worth roughly $100 million with Elon Musk’s Starlink company to provide high-speed internet to parts of northern and rural Ontario.
The Ontario government has signed a deal valued at approximately $100 million with Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet company, to provide high-speed internet access to rural and northern parts of the province.
Announced on Thursday, the agreement was awarded to Starlink through a competitive bidding process and aims to deliver satellite-based internet to about 15,000 households and businesses by June 2025.
“Our government is pleased to work with Starlink to offer a highly advanced satellite internet service that will help people living and working in the hardest-to-reach areas of the province access high-speed internet,” stated Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure.
Recognizing the importance of online connectivity, Surma added, “We are using all viable options and technologies, including fibre, fixed wireless, and satellite, to ensure every community across the province has access by the end of 2025.”
Starlink’s Role and Commitments
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, relies on low-orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet in areas where traditional infrastructure is difficult to implement. Registration for the program will begin in spring 2025.
The agreement includes provisions for Starlink to engage with Indigenous communities potentially served by the program, fostering local economic opportunities, training, and jobs wherever feasible.
Starlink has previously demonstrated its capabilities in Ontario, including its 2020 rollout in the Pikangikum First Nation.
Broader Implications
This contract comes as Elon Musk is set to assume a prominent role in Donald Trump’s anticipated second administration, where he is expected to oversee a department aimed at identifying government inefficiencies. Musk’s involvement in the recent U.S. election included advising Trump, amplifying his messages on the platform X, and making public appearances with him.
The Trump administration has signaled plans to impose tariffs on all foreign imports, potentially including goods from Ontario. Trump has also indicated intentions to renegotiate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) in 2026, with suggestions of imposing a 10% tariff on imports.
Despite these threats, Ontario Premier Doug Ford remains unconcerned. Reflecting on past tariff measures under Trump, Ford remarked, “He tried that last time, and that didn’t last too long — it lasted about four weeks,” following Trump’s recent election victory.
The Starlink partnership highlights Ontario’s continued efforts to enhance digital infrastructure while navigating potential economic uncertainties stemming from shifting U.S. trade policies.
