Satellites are Canada’s next sovereignty frontier as global ‘race’ heats up
Global News
Carney's speech to Australia's parliament highlighted a soon-to-launch Canadian low earth orbit satellite network that experts say could soon compete with Elon Musk's Starlink.
Canada is working to launch hundreds of new communication satellites that Prime Minister Mark Carney and experts say will be “fundamental” to sovereign defence capabilities and autonomy from the United States.
During a speech to Australia’s parliament on Thursday, Carney highlighted a soon-to-launch, made-in-Canada low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network that could soon compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink in providing far-reaching internet services.
That in turn will help with everything from military operations to natural disaster responses, experts say — particularly in the Arctic.
“Satellite communications are now a fundamental requirement for security and strategic autonomy,” Carney said Thursday.
“A Canadian-based constellation of LEO satellites will launch next year to provide reliable and secure global communications. We are working with other like-minded partners who possess similar capabilities to build out a deep and resilient system we can all share and control in our own territories.”
The new defence industrial strategy includes space, and specifically satellite communications, as one of its 10 key sovereign capabilities that the federal government is looking to prioritize.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Carney was referencing Telesat Lightspeed, a network of nearly 200 LEO satellites that was initially set to go into orbit late this year.
The project was given a $2.14-billion federal loan in 2024 to expand internet and 5G connectivity across Canada, including in remote and Indigenous communities that have long been without fast, reliable service.
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