It’s potentially the biggest thing to hit rural Alberta since cable television and private telephone lines.Starting next year customers in three rural counties will be eligible to sign up for Starlink satellite internet system. Starlink is owned by SpaceX which in turn is owned by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.Up until March, residents and businesses of County of Forty Mile, County of Warner No. 5 and Cardston County can apply to be part of the pilot, which will test the use of satellite internet technology instead of fibre and fixed wireless technologies.The Alberta government will chip in $1,000 per eligible household to cover the cost of of the Starlink hardware, including shipping and taxes..It’s all part of a plan to improve access to reliable high speed internet — defined as download speeds of 50 megabits per second — in all parts of Alberta by 2027. In a news release, Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish said universal coverage is expected to generate up to $1.7 billion in GDP, including a 5% bump to the agricultural sector from the adoption of new technologies.“Advancing satellite internet technology in Alberta is an important milestone and an innovative way to achieve our goal of universal connectivity by 2027. Today, connectivity is everything and Alberta’s government is proud to provide rural Alberta with another option to eliminate the connectivity gap,” said Glubish.“Access to high-speed internet is vital to economic growth in rural communities and this pilot program represents another way that communities that don’t have fibre connections can get access to critical connectivity quickly,” added Shauna Feth, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce.Up to 2,000 long-term service industry jobs are expected in rural communities, while more than 120,000 students will have improved access to remote education.The pilot is limited to households and businesses located in specific areas in the counties where land-based internet infrastructure is not yet possible. Only underserved households and businesses within the designated areas who meet the criteria are eligible for the pilot.SpaceX started launching nearly 12,000 satellites in 2019 covering 60 countries. It aims to have global mobile phone service after this year. Canada granted it regulatory approval in November of 2020..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
It’s potentially the biggest thing to hit rural Alberta since cable television and private telephone lines.Starting next year customers in three rural counties will be eligible to sign up for Starlink satellite internet system. Starlink is owned by SpaceX which in turn is owned by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.Up until March, residents and businesses of County of Forty Mile, County of Warner No. 5 and Cardston County can apply to be part of the pilot, which will test the use of satellite internet technology instead of fibre and fixed wireless technologies.The Alberta government will chip in $1,000 per eligible household to cover the cost of of the Starlink hardware, including shipping and taxes..It’s all part of a plan to improve access to reliable high speed internet — defined as download speeds of 50 megabits per second — in all parts of Alberta by 2027. In a news release, Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish said universal coverage is expected to generate up to $1.7 billion in GDP, including a 5% bump to the agricultural sector from the adoption of new technologies.“Advancing satellite internet technology in Alberta is an important milestone and an innovative way to achieve our goal of universal connectivity by 2027. Today, connectivity is everything and Alberta’s government is proud to provide rural Alberta with another option to eliminate the connectivity gap,” said Glubish.“Access to high-speed internet is vital to economic growth in rural communities and this pilot program represents another way that communities that don’t have fibre connections can get access to critical connectivity quickly,” added Shauna Feth, president and CEO, Alberta Chambers of Commerce.Up to 2,000 long-term service industry jobs are expected in rural communities, while more than 120,000 students will have improved access to remote education.The pilot is limited to households and businesses located in specific areas in the counties where land-based internet infrastructure is not yet possible. Only underserved households and businesses within the designated areas who meet the criteria are eligible for the pilot.SpaceX started launching nearly 12,000 satellites in 2019 covering 60 countries. It aims to have global mobile phone service after this year. Canada granted it regulatory approval in November of 2020..This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
