Canadian telecom giant introduces affordable Starlink-powered mobile service

The Expansion of Satellite-Based Connectivity in North America

The competition to provide satellite-based mobile connectivity is intensifying across North America and Europe. Starlink continues to lead the market, but major telecom companies like T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone are also entering the space. Recently, Canadian telecom provider Rogers Communications has joined the race with its new service, Rogers Satellite. This service leverages Starlink technology to offer text messaging and access to internet-connected services such as Google Maps and WhatsApp.

"We're proud to be the first and only provider in the country to offer this ground-breaking technology so Canadians can stay connected," said Tony Staffieri, the company's chief.

Accessibility Beyond Rogers Customers

Importantly, the satellite service isn't exclusive to Rogers customers. Users who are on other carriers can still benefit from the service by purchasing an add-on Rogers Satellite plan for $15 per month. The only requirement is that the device (phone or smartwatch) must be carrier unlocked and support eSIM functionality.

For existing Rogers customers, the company is offering 24 months of free access to Ultimate subscribers and 12 months of no-cost satellite service to Popular plan buyers. Other subscribers can enjoy a discounted rate of $10/month for a year.

Testing and Expansion of Services

Rogers began testing satellite-based services in July with a beta program limited to text messages. Now that the service is widely available, the range of supported apps and services has grown significantly. In addition to 911 emergency calling and texting, the satellite service now supports WhatsApp, X, CalTopo, Accuweather, and Google Maps. The company plans to expand the list of satellite-ready apps as developers update their applications.

How the Service Works

Rogers Communications states that the satellite communication service, which is available for both regular users and IoT companies, will cover remote areas where cellular connections are unavailable. However, there are some limitations to consider when using internet-connected apps over Rogers' satellite network.

First, the availability of the service depends on the phone model. According to the company's support page, compatibility includes iPhones, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel phones. Additionally, how well an app functions—whether it works at all—depends on how well the software has been optimized for low-bandwidth networks. Streaming-heavy apps that require more data packets, such as social media and games, may not perform optimally.

Older phones may miss out on certain satellite-enabled features. For example, the current-gen Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra supports messaging (SMS, iMessage, and RCS), 911 emergency texting, public alerts, location sharing, and third-party apps. However, the Galaxy S24, launched last year, does not support satellite-ready mobile apps like WhatsApp.

Technical Limitations

On the technical side, messaging is limited to text conversations and group chats, as video and static images are not supported, likely due to bandwidth constraints. It's also worth noting that the Rogers Satellite service will coexist with Apple's Emergency Satellite SOS service available on iPhones. However, if you have the Rogers Satellite service on your iPhone, it will activate first when you go off the grid. In areas where the carrier's satellite service doesn't work, Apple's system will take over.