SpaceX’s Starlink is once again helping those in need, offering one month of free satellite internet service to Canadians impacted by ongoing wildfires across the country.
The offer applies to both new and existing users in affected regions, as shown in a map published on Starlink’s website highlighting vast areas across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of Ontario and Quebec.
Proactive Support
Starlink is automatically crediting one month of service to all active customers in the impacted zones—no action is required by these customers to receive the credit. For users who previously canceled or paused their subscriptions, the company has applied a credit equivalent to their last service plan, which can be used upon reactivation.
New customers purchasing Starlink hardware in the designated areas can also receive free service through July 5, 2025, by contacting Starlink support after purchase.
Additionally, Starlink is offering free equipment replacements for customers whose terminals have been damaged by the fires.
Wildfire Season Intensifies Across Canada
Despite being early, Canada is experiencing an intense start to wildfire season, with more than 300 active wildfires reported nationwide. Provinces like British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan are facing particularly difficult conditions due to a combination of high temperatures, dry forests, and strong winds. In many areas, smoke from the wildfires has led to widespread air quality warnings. Ontario and Quebec have also reported dozens of fires, with some evacuations already underway in northern communities.
Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements in multiple provinces, warning of dangerous smoke levels and urging residents in affected regions to limit outdoor activity. The severity of the wildfire season echoes 2023, when Canada experienced its worst fire year on record, burning over 18 million hectares.
Canadian Governments Pulling Back from Starlink
SpaceX is making this gesture of goodwill at a time when Starlink’s relationship with Canadian governments is under increasing strain. In May, the Ontario government abruptly cancelled a $100 million contract with Starlink that was intended to expand high-speed internet access to underserved regions. The province cited concerns over Elon Musk’s public support of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his increasingly political messaging on X, which Musk owns.
Other provinces, including Quebec and Alberta, have also hinted at reassessing their partnerships with the satellite internet provider, even though Starlink has been instrumental in delivering connectivity to remote Indigenous communities and isolated rural regions. Despite this, the province did recently sign a new contract with Starlink for high-speed internet coverage at remote courthouses, with government officials saying no other service providers could match its coverage and cost.
