Commonwealth_ Rogers Communications rolled out Rogers Satellite, a leading satellite-to-mobile text messaging service, extending connectivity to Canada’s vast and often underdeveloped areas. The new service is a milestone in wireless coverage, solidifying Rogers as Canada’s leading mobile connectivity provider for remote and rural areas.
The introduction of Rogers Satellite provides Canadians with the ability to send text messages and access text-to-911 services where previously it would not have been possible with traditional wireless networks. The area of coverage is now up to a distance of over 5.4 million square kilometers—over 2.5 times larger than the area of coverage any other wireless carrier offers in Canada. This massive growth in the area of service is a huge step forward towards offering mobile communication to more Canadians, wherever they reside or travel. Rogers Satellite employs low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites in combination with the company’s national wireless spectrum to deliver satellite-to-smartphone connectivity.
The service is compatible with most newer cellphones, enabling individuals to be automatically transferred onto a satellite network when away from coverage of standard cell towers. The technology enables users to now text on backcountry trails, roads with no signal, or remote northern towns, like along Hudson Bay’s southern coast or the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Traditional wireless networks currently cover only 18% of Canada’s geography.
Rogers Satellite significantly bridges this gap by providing critical communications capacity to markets previously lacking cellular coverage. The initial roll-out period of the service is focused on basic functions such as SMS messaging and text-to-911, with subsequent upgrade phases under development to provide data, application, and full voice services, including 911 voice calls. Rogers is offering a free beta trial to all Canadians starting today, coinciding with the rollout.
Customers can use the service for free in beta and provide feedback that will shape its ongoing development. The beta trial extends to October 2025, when Rogers Satellite will be included at no additional charge for Rogers Ultimate Plan customers. The service will cost $15 per month for individuals not included in that plan. Beta testers will also get a discount of $5 per month on their initial year of paid service. This new product is the latest installment of Rogers’ 40-year history of innovation in Canada’s wireless sector. Since the country’s first wireless call 40 years ago, Rogers has led mobile connectivity from voice on 1G networks to ultra-high speeds today (5G+). And with each generation of mobile technology, Rogers has enabled Canadians to change the way they connect, communicate, and access digital services.
By bridging mobile spectrum and satellite technology, Rogers is increasing individual connectivity and enhancing public safety infrastructure. The ability to text 911 where one does not have cell service in rural communities can be a matter of life or death in case of an emergency. This is especially significant for individuals who live, work, or travel through rural communities, like hikers, hunters, and northern community residents.
Looking ahead, Rogers will also be investing in satellite-assisted services, optimizing performance, and developing capabilities. Live trials throughout the beta test will be key to demonstrating assurance of reliability and seamless compatibility with existing mobile networks. As Canada progresses further into the 5G era and beyond the digital age, tools like Rogers Satellite will be critical to enabling universal digital accessibility. With this launch, Rogers has rewritten the rules of wireless communications in Canada, utilizing ordinary smartphones as satellite phones and providing connectivity to rural corners of the country
