October 21, 2025 Bell Canada has completed Canada’s first successful space-based voice and data call using a standard smartphone, marking a major step toward satellite-enabled mobile service that could reshape connectivity in remote areas.
The test, conducted in New Brunswick with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile, used a low Earth orbit satellite to deliver voice-over-LTE calls, video streaming, and broadband data without specialized hardware. Bell says the service will launch commercially in 2026 and automatically connect when users move beyond terrestrial cell coverage.
Blaik Kirby, Bell’s group president of consumer and small and medium business, said in an interview with iPhone in Canada the company’s approach will differ from competitors like Starlink because it is being built entirely within Canada. He said Bell is constructing all of its satellite base stations domestically, making it, in his words, “a completely sovereign satellite solution.”
“As opposed to some other solutions,” he said, “your data may not be staying in Canada — who knows where it’s going?” Kirby added that the difference will likely appeal to Canadians who prefer local infrastructure and want assurance that their data remains in the country.
Kirby also confirmed pricing for the first time, saying Bell plans to include satellite coverage in its top two wireless plans — currently $85 for 175 GB and $105 for 250 GB — while other customers will be able to add it for roughly $10 to $15 a month on a pay-per-use basis. He described the rates as affordable compared to international roaming costs and said the service will extend mobile access far beyond current limits.
Bell’s announcement comes as rival Rogers Communications prepares to launch its own satellite texting service through Lynk Global, a narrower offering that will initially support messaging only. Analysts say Bell’s voice-and-data approach represents a broader step toward integrating space and terrestrial networks under Canadian control.
