Rogers Comms expands Rogers Satellite in Canada

Executive Summary

• Rogers Communications Inc. has expanded its Rogers Satellite service to provide three times more coverage than any other Canadian wireless provider, extending connectivity to remote areas, national parks, and waterways across Canada.
• The service, which initially launched as a free beta trial in July, supports text messaging and text-to-911, with future plans to expand to apps, data, and voice services.
• Following the beta trial's conclusion in October, the service will be included at no additional cost for Rogers Ultimate Plan customers and available to all Canadians for $15/month, with a $5/month discount for beta participants for the first 12 months.

Key Details

• Coverage Expansion: Rogers Satellite now covers bodies of water and waterways off the Canadian coastline, including areas like Newfoundland to Nova Scotia ferries, Haida Gwaii, and James Bay.
• Usage Metrics: Top usage destinations include Yoho National Park (BC), Banff and Kananaskis Provincial Parks (Alberta), Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario), Mont Tremblant (Quebec), and Fundy National Park (New Brunswick).
• Remote Locations: Service has been utilized in highly remote areas such as Telegraph Creek, B.C. (population 51), Brochet, Man. (fly-in community), and North Twin Island, Nunavut.
• Service Capabilities: Currently supports text messaging and text-to-911; planned expansion includes apps, data, and 911 voice services.
• Pricing Structure:
  • Beta Trial: Free until October.
  • Post-Beta: Included at no additional cost for Rogers Ultimate Plan customers.
  • General Public: $15/month for all Canadians.
  • Beta Discount: Participants receive a $5/month discount for the first 12 months post-trial.
• Availability: Available outdoors where the sky is visible.

Notable Quotes

• "We're proud to expand this groundbreaking technology to Canadians across the country including national parks, remote highways and waterways," said Mark Kennedy, chief technology officer, Rogers. "Since we launched Rogers Satellite, we've had a tremendous response from Canadians, and can see the service is helping people stay connected in places they weren't before."