Rogers Satellite: Starlink on your phone in Canada
Rogers' phone-to-satellite service runs on SpaceX's Starlink satellites. It's a real safety upgrade for NL backcountry users — but it's a messaging layer, not internet for your cabin or crew.
- Beta launched July 15, 2025; commercial launch December 2025
- Texting, text-to-911 and select apps (WhatsApp, Google Maps and more)
- Covers Canada south of the 58th parallel, outdoors with sky view
- Works with most modern phones, on any Canadian carrier
Starlink Mini kits from $29/day · Unlimited high-speed data · refundable deposit · pickup in St. John's or NL-wide shipping.
Check Rental AvailabilityNo dates yet? See pricesWhat happened
Rogers opened a free beta of Rogers Satellite to all Canadians on July 15, 2025, starting with text messaging and text-to-911, and said it would later add apps, data and voice (Rogers). The service left beta in December 2025 as a paid product, initially connecting through Starlink's low-orbit satellites, with support for apps like WhatsApp, Google Maps, AccuWeather and CalTopo (Light Reading, PCMag). Current plans and pricing are on rogers.com/satellite.
What it means in NL
For hunters, hikers and boaters heading out past the last tower, being able to text home or reach 911 from a normal phone is a big deal. Rogers notes service may be delayed, limited or unavailable, so treat it as a backup, not a guarantee.
What it doesn't do: run a lodge's Wi-Fi, upload footage from a film set, or keep a remote worker on video calls all day. For that you still need a Starlink terminal. A Starlink Mini rental covers the gap for a trip or season without buying hardware.
Frequently asked
No. It supports texting, text-to-911 and select satellite-ready apps. It is not a broadband connection for video calls, streaming, or many devices at once — that still needs a Starlink terminal like the Mini.
Rogers says it covers Canada south of the 58th parallel (excluding specific regions) in most outdoor areas with a view of the sky. That includes the island of Newfoundland and most of Labrador; the far northern tip of Labrador lies above 58°N.
The NL Off-Grid Connectivity Checklist
12 questions to answer before you commit to remote internet anywhere in Newfoundland & Labrador. Saves you a wasted trip — and a $300 deposit.
- Sky-view & obstruction checks from real deployments
- Power budget worksheet (Wh/day per kit)
- NL weather & marine deployment gotchas