Starlink made waves by bringing fast, low-latency internet to places otherwise stuck with satellite connections from the Stone Age—or worse, nothing at all. But now that businesses rely on it, what will happen if Starlink goes down? Or if Elon Musk decides to shift priorities?
It’s not paranoia. Things got a bit complicated when the U.S. hinted at a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, making some wonder if relying on a U.S. company for critical internet was the safest bet.
For Canadian enterprises that need reliable, scalable satellite internet, Eutelsat OneWeb is emerging as a serious contender. Here’s why it is the most compelling Starlink alternative for businesses. You can also explore other satellite providers that might fit your needs.
Our team can walk you through the best-fit options based on your coverage needs.
Why Consider a Starlink Alternative?
Starlink works great for rural homeowners who need to stream Netflix without waiting for the buffering wheel to spin for five minutes. But businesses have higher stakes. Think mining companies tracking equipment in remote regions, or telemedicine providers connecting with patients hundreds of kilometers from the nearest clinic.
In those scenarios, a few minutes of downtime can be costly. Businesses must also consider data security, scalability, and geopolitical factors.
Here’s why companies are looking beyond Starlink:
- Reliability: Starlink doesn’t offer service-level agreements (SLAs); it offers best-effort internet. Eutelsat OneWeb, on the other hand, provides enterprise-grade SLAs that guarantee uptime.
- Support: Need immediate help? Starlink offers email support. Eutelsat OneWeb provides 24/7 phone support and hands-on troubleshooting through Canadian partners like Galaxy Broadband.
- Data Sovereignty: Starlink routes data through the nearest available ground station. This could mean your sensitive business data passes through the U.S. Eutelsat OneWeb, which allows businesses to choose Canadian ground stations for added control.
- Geopolitical Risk: With Eutelsat OneWeb’s French-British ownership, Canadian companies reduce reliance on U.S.-controlled infrastructure. Given increasing geopolitical tensions, that’s a valid concern.
But wait, there’s more. Starlink shook things up for businesses in 2025 with a major pricing change. Gone is the unlimited high-speed data. Now, you buy fixed buckets of ‘Priority Data’ – think $290 CAD for 1TB or $540 for 2TB per month, on top of the hardware. Use it up? Your speed plummets to a glacial 1 Mbps, essentially grinding operations to a halt.
For businesses chewing through data, this means sticker shock and budget chaos. We’re hearing industry chatter about monthly bills skyrocketing – sometimes from $7,600 to nearly $40,000, or from $1,300 to over $16,000, just to maintain previous usage levels.
Suddenly, the predictability and guaranteed performance (SLAs) offered by alternatives like Eutelsat OneWeb look a whole lot more attractive, don’t they?
Get our free expert guide comparing the most popular satellite internet services across Canada.
What to Look for in a Satellite Internet Provider
Choosing a satellite internet provider isn’t like picking a new phone plan. For businesses, the stakes are higher. A spotty connection can stop operations, cut off remote teams, and lead to serious financial losses. That’s why finding the right provider means looking beyond basic download speeds and pricing.
Here’s what Canadian enterprises should prioritize when evaluating satellite internet providers:
1. Reliability and Uptime Guarantees
Consumer-grade providers like Starlink offer what’s called best-effort service — meaning they’ll try to keep you connected, but they don’t guarantee it. For remote operations like mining sites, research stations, or critical infrastructure, that’s not good enough.
Look for providers offering Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with uptime commitments (often 99.9% or higher). Eutelsat OneWeb, for example, provides enterprise customers with SLAs and guarantees on bandwidth availability. That assurance means no more crossing your fingers during a critical video conference.
2. Latency and Speed
Latency — the time it takes data to travel from your device to the satellite and back — can make or break your operations. High latency results in laggy video calls, sluggish cloud applications, and poor user experiences.
- Due to its low-altitude satellites, Starlink typically delivers 20-40 ms latency, while Eutelsat OneWeb averages around 50-70 ms.
- While Starlink can reach higher peak speeds, Eutelsat OneWeb offers more stable bandwidth through Committed Information Rate (CIR) plans, making it a safer bet for businesses that can’t tolerate unpredictable speeds.
If your business relies on real-time applications like VoIP, telemedicine, or remote machinery monitoring, low and stable latency should be a top priority.
3. Coverage in Remote Areas
Not all satellite providers cover every corner of Canada. While Starlink has widespread coverage, Eutelsat OneWeb’s network was built with high-latitude regions in mind, making it ideal for northern operations.
- Eutelsat OneWeb has a strong presence in Canada’s Arctic and remote provinces, providing coverage where traditional infrastructure isn’t feasible.
- Starlink covers most of Canada, but its performance can dip in congested regions with high user density.
If your business operates in extremely remote locations or moves between sites, ensure your provider has consistent coverage across all your operational areas.
4. Dedicated Bandwidth Options
Consumer satellite services operate on a shared network. During peak times, bandwidth can shrink as more users hop online. If you’re managing a fleet of sensors or transferring large amounts of data, unpredictable bandwidth is a risk.
- Eutelsat OneWeb offers dedicated bandwidth through CIR plans, guaranteeing a set amount of throughput regardless of network congestion.
- Starlink provides high speeds for individual users but cannot guarantee bandwidth during periods of high demand.
For mission-critical operations like remote monitoring, guaranteed bandwidth ensures uninterrupted service.
5. Support and Troubleshooting
When something goes wrong, how quickly can you get help? With consumer-grade providers like Starlink, support is often limited to email. That’s fine for streaming movies, but not for businesses that need instant problem-solving.
- Eutelsat OneWeb partners with companies like Galaxy Broadband to provide 24/7 phone support and on-site maintenance.
- With Starlink, users are left to troubleshoot themselves — which can be a headache for enterprises without dedicated IT teams.
If your operations rely heavily on connectivity, access to prompt and reliable support should be non-negotiable.
6. Data Security and Sovereignty
Canadian businesses working with sensitive data often need to ensure their information remains within the country’s borders. While Starlink routes data to the nearest available ground station, which may be in the U.S., Eutelsat OneWeb gives enterprises greater control.
- Eutelsat OneWeb allows businesses to route data through specific Canadian ground stations, ensuring compliance with local data regulations.
- If your industry has strict privacy or regulatory requirements, this level of control can be crucial.
Eutelsat OneWeb: The Top Starlink Competitor for Enterprises
Eutelsat OneWeb isn’t a household name like Starlink, but it’s quietly been making moves in the enterprise world. While Starlink is largely consumer-focused, Eutelsat OneWeb is built for large-scale deployments — from mining camps to Arctic research stations.
Coverage That Works for Canada
Eutelsat OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation covers the entire country, including the most remote regions. Unlike Starlink, which started with a limited rollout, Eutelsat OneWeb prioritized high latitudes. The result? Strong coverage in places like Nunavut and the Yukon.
Guaranteed Bandwidth
While Starlink’s speeds vary depending on network congestion, Eutelsat OneWeb offers dedicated bandwidth. Businesses can purchase a Committed Information Rate (CIR) to ensure stable speeds, even during peak times.
This reliability is often worth the higher cost for remote operations like mining or oil and gas. No buffering. No excuses.
Enterprise Partnerships
Rather than selling directly to consumers, Eutelsat OneWeb works through partners like Galaxy Broadband. These local companies don’t just install the service; they also manage it. Think of it as having a dedicated IT team ensuring your connection stays solid.
How Eutelsat OneWeb Stacks Up Against Starlink
Let’s break it down side by side:
| Feature | Eutelsat OneWeb | Starlink |
| Ownership | French-British (Eutelsat, UK Government) | American (SpaceX) |
| Target Market | Enterprise and Government | Consumers and Small Businesses |
| Support | 24/7 Phone Support, On-site Options | Email Support Only |
| Service Guarantees | SLAs with Guaranteed Bandwidth | Best-Effort Service |
| Coverage | Full Canadian Coverage | Full Canadian Coverage |
| Latency | 50-70 ms | 20-40 ms |
| Speed | Up to 150 Mbps (with CIR options) | 50-200 Mbps (Can fluctuate) |
| Data Control | Canadian Ground Stations | Data Routed to Nearest Gateway |
Other Satellite Internet Providers in Canada
While Eutelsat OneWeb is the most prominent Starlink competitor for businesses, it’s not the only game in town. Here are a few others to consider:
Telesat Lightspeed
- Canadian-owned and heavily funded by the federal government
- Aiming to launch a LEO network by 2026
- Designed for enterprise and government applications with guaranteed performance
Lightspeed could become a major player, especially for organizations that prefer to support domestic infrastructure.
Viasat (Formerly Inmarsat)
- Provides geostationary (GEO) satellite service with extensive coverage
- Best for companies needing coverage over oceans or remote sites with minimal infrastructure
- Slower than LEO options, but reliable for backup connectivity
HughesNet
- A longtime provider of satellite internet, now expanding with its Jupiter 3 satellite
- Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps — an improvement over traditional GEO satellites
- Primarily a consumer option, but viable for small businesses in areas without LEO coverage
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Satellite Internet for Your Business
If you’re running a remote operation in Canada, Eutelsat OneWeb offers the reliability and support that consumer-grade services like Starlink simply can’t guarantee. Dedicated bandwidth, enterprise-grade SLAs, and a strong Canadian partner network make it a smart choice.
That said, it’s rarely a bad idea to have redundancy. Some companies keep Starlink as a secondary option, ensuring they stay online even if their primary service experiences issues. Others are waiting to see how Telesat Lightspeed and Amazon’s Project Kuiper shake up the landscape in the next few years.
But if uptime, reliability, and geopolitical resilience matter to your business, Eutelsat OneWeb is already leading the pack.
Need help getting connected? Contact Galaxy Broadband, Eutelsat OneWeb’s official Canadian partner, to explore your options.
OneWeb is a low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet provider focused on enterprise, government, and industrial connectivity. While Starlink serves mostly consumers and small businesses, OneWeb offers managed service, dedicated bandwidth, SLAs, and 24/7 support—making it a stronger fit for critical operations in remote or harsh environments.
Yes. OneWeb’s LEO satellite network offers nationwide coverage, including rural, remote, and northern areas. Galaxy Broadband helps deploy and manage OneWeb services in regions where terrestrial or fiber internet is not available or reliable.
OneWeb offers symmetrical speeds and low latency suitable for video conferencing, cloud apps, real-time monitoring, and VoIP. While speeds depend on the service package, it is engineered to support demanding business operations.