Ongoing geopolitical tensions between Canada and the U.S. have raised concerns about the potential cancellation of Starlink, which currently serves around two million Canadians.

This service is particularly vital for rural Canadians, including those in the Northwest Territories and Yukon, who have limited access to alternative internet options.

While the cancellation would impact only about 4.9% of internet users in urban Ontario, the consequences for rural users across the country could be significantly more severe.

Research from Ookla highlights that if Starlink were to be discontinued, it would lead to considerable internet access issues, especially in Nunavut, where 44% of speed tests were conducted using Starlink.

In response to these tensions, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cancel a $100 million deal with Starlink, operated by SpaceX, due to the looming possibility of U.S. tariffs.

Currently, Canada and the U.S. have agreed to pause tariffs against each other for 30 days, temporarily delaying any immediate actions regarding the Starlink deal.