While much of the conversation about rural broadband in Canada has recently centered on low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, the business is a very expensive one, with huge capital costs and — depending on the business model of a given company — big subsidies, according to the panellists at a Friday session of the 2020 online edition of the Canada’s Rural and Remote Broadband Conference. Space Exploration Technologies Corp.'s Starlink system is meant to focus on direct to consumer service, but the starting costs come with a more-than $500 price tag for the consumer, panellists said....
NORTH BAY Ont. — The CRTC announced on Wednesday that it is now accepting a second round of applications for its Broadband Fund, as those in attendance at a conference focusing on rural connectivity heard about the need for more funding and more intergovernmental...