Despite past comments made by Premier R.J. Simpson, the GNWT is still using Starlink.
Starlink is an American satellite technology company owned by SpaceX. In the NWT, its more remote communities rely on it for service. However, when a trade war between Canada and the United States started, one of the first things Simpson said his government would do in response is to end its contracts with the company.
"We're looking at how to end our contracts with Starlink,".
So far, that hasn't happened.
Toyeke Adedipe, senior communications officer with the Department of Finance, told SA国际影视传媒 that between March 2025 and July 2025, various departments have spent a combined total of more than $134,000 on Starlink.
Those departments include Environment and Climate Change, Finance, Infrastructure, Industry, Tourism and Investment, Justice and Housing NWT, according to Adedipe. The legislative assembly also uses it
"Departmental program areas within the GNWT continue to use Starlink services to meet their operational needs in areas where no reliable alternatives exist," she said.
Starlink has been credited as being crucial to the NWT, not only for people living in more remote areas, but also for GNWT workers.
Adedipe used the example of highway workers travelling through areas with no internet access. They benefit by having Starlink terminals in their vehicles to address emergencies like accidents on the road and coordinating responses, she explained.
Adedipe acknowledged Simpson's comments in March and said the GNWT will continue exploring alternatives to align with a 'Team Canada' approach. So far, none have been found.
The GNWT named one possible alternative, OneWeb, but, according to Adedipe, it "does not provide such a service in far remote areas that is as portable, as robust, or as cheap as Starlink and requires significant up-front costs."
She also said that the territorial government's decision to use Starlink is not related to trade-related matters between Canada and the U.S. Instead, it's based on situations where no reliable alternative exists.
But the reason Simpson made his comments in March was in response to U.S. president Donald Trump putting tariffs on Canada.
Lifeling Colville Lake resident David Codzi told SA国际影视传媒 on July 14 that when he started using Starlink a few years ago, he said it made all the difference.
"It brings internet right to your doorstep," he said. "You just need a dish, a little bit of power and then you're hooked up."
Codzi said switching to Starlink has helped him save money as he no longer relies on a landline telephone or satellite TV. While the trade war has affected how he views the company, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 still looking around to see what the equivalents are.
"Are we looking around for other things and bringing them in? If not, then we can't just stop something that helps a lot of people," said Codzi.
Starlink has been praised by other communities across the NWT for providing high speed internet access also.
In a statement to SA国际影视传媒 regarding his comments back in March, Simpson noted that what he said was the GNWT would be looking at how to "reduce [its] reliance on American companies like Starlink."
Simpson added that work is ongoing.
"We remain aligned with the Team Canada approach in response to U.S. tariffs, and our goal is to shift away from U.S. providers wherever it is safe and practical to do so," said Simpson. "At the same time, we are a vast and remote territory, and access to reliable connectivity isnSA国际影视传媒檛 a luxury, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a matter of safety. In many of our most isolated areas, Starlink remains the only option that provides dependable, portable internet."
