Why It's Important
For any remote Canadian community – including municipalities, coastal villages, and First Nations – still awaiting fibre optic connections, emerging connectivity technologies like Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites are a vital bridge to the digital economy. These new systems provide high-speed, reliable internet that can be deployed much faster than terrestrial infrastructure. They are particularly transformative for First Nations, who have historically faced the most significant barriers to connectivity. For these communities, it is a crucial tool for business continuity, enabling local entrepreneurs High-Speed Internet Access for all Canadians strategy, leveraging a mix of technologies is essential to ensure that every community can achieve its economic
History
For decades, remote communities relied on geosynchronous (GEO) satellites, which were slow, expensive, and had significant delays (latency), making many modern applications unusable. The landscape began to change dramatically in the late 2010s with the rise of LEO satellite constellations. These mega-constellations involve thousands of small satellites orbiting much closer to Earth, drastically reducing latency and increasing speeds. SpaceX's Starlink was the first to market on a large scale in Canada, but Canada has its own history in satellite innovation, including the pioneering Anik satellites and the upcoming Telesat Lightspeed constellation, a Canadian project aimed at providing enterprise-grade connectivity to underserved regions globally.
Examples
Tsay Keh Dene Nation: Located in a remote area of north-central B.C., the Nation deployed Starlink in 2022, bringing high-speed
Lytton First Nation: After the 2021 wildfire destroyed their community and its infrastructure, the Lytton First Nation used Starlink as a critical tool in their rebuilding efforts. The technology provided essential connectivity for the administration and recovery teams long before traditional services could be restored.
Coastal First Nations Connectivity Network: This project, involving several coastal Nations in B.C., has actively explored and piloted various technologies, including LEO satellites, as part of a hybrid strategy to bring reliable internet to their member communities while the Connected Coast fibre network is being built out.
Software and Tools
Starlink: The most widely available LEO satellite internet service. It offers residential and business plans, providing high-speed, low-latency internet suitable for video calls, streaming, and online business operations.
Telesat Lightspeed: A Canadian-developed LEO constellation expected to launch in the coming years. It is designed to provide high-capacity backhaul for community networks, cellular towers, and enterprise clients rather than direct-to-home service.
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Technology that uses cellular signals (like 5G or LTE) from a nearby tower to provide internet to homes and businesses. It can be a powerful option for communities within range of cellular infrastructure.
TV White Space (TVWS): An innovative technology that uses unused broadcast television spectrum to deliver wireless internet. It's particularly useful in B.C.'s challenging terrain as its signals can travel through trees and over hills better than traditional Wi-Fi.
AI Considerations
Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role behind the scenes in making these new technologies work. For LEO constellations, AI algorithms constantly manage the complex network, switching user connections between satellites as they fly overhead to ensure a seamless signal. For First Nations, this AI-driven reliability is a major benefit. Looking forward, AI tools could help a Nation's local network administrator manage a hybrid system, automatically switching traffic between a LEO connection and a future fibre connection to ensure the most stable and cost-effective service is always being used. As always, data sovereignty remains a key consideration when using any externally managed service. For every AI project tied to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh), create a simple governance log that tracks data sources, permissions, model choices, and human review before results are shared. This ensures the community stays in control of outcomes and avoids unintended harm. Pair every AI project connected to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh) with a governance checklist: confirm permissions for data, record how models were tested, and schedule a human review before publishing results so accountability stays with the community. Pair every AI project connected to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh) with a governance checklist: confirm permissions for data, record how models were tested, and schedule a human review before publishing results so accountability stays with the community. Pair every AI project connected to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh) with a governance checklist: confirm permissions for data, record how models were tested, and schedule a human review before publishing results so accountability stays with the community. Pair every AI project connected to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh) with a governance checklist: confirm permissions for data, record how models were tested, and schedule a human review before publishing results so accountability stays with the community. Pair every AI project connected to Emerging Connectivity Technologies (LEO, Mesh) with a governance checklist: confirm permissions for data, record how models were tested, and schedule a human review before publishing results so accountability stays with the community.
FAQ
1. Is LEO satellite internet as good as fibre?
2. Does weather affect LEO satellite internet?
3. Can our Nation resell Starlink service?
4. Are there funding programs to cover the costs?
5. What is "latency" and why is it important?
6. Do we need a professional to install it?
7. Is the hardware expensive?
Pro Tips
Stay abreast of emerging connectivity options like low‑Earth orbit satellites and mesh networks. Research their reliability, latency, cost, and impact on data sovereignty, and look for opportunities to test them in your own setting. Evaluating these technologies prepares you to make informed decisions about future connectivity solutions.
Checklist
External Resources
BC's Connectivity Plan: Details the province's strategy for connecting all communities
Telesat: The official website for Canada's own LEO satellite company, providing insight into the future of satellite connectivity.
Indigenous Connectivity Institute: An organization that provides resources and advocates for affordable, sustainable connectivity solutions for Indigenous communities across
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) – Spectrum Management: The federal body that manages the wireless spectrum used by technologies like TV White Space and 5G.