It’s potentially the biggest thing to hit rural Alberta since cable television and private telephone lines.

Starting next year customers in three rural counties will be eligible to sign up for Starlink satellite internet system. Starlink is owned by SpaceX which in turn is owned by the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

Up until March, residents and businesses of County of Forty Mile, County of Warner No. 5 and Cardston County can apply to be part of the pilot, which will test the use of satellite internet technology instead of fibre and fixed wireless technologies.

The Alberta government will chip in $1,000 per eligible household to cover the cost of of the Starlink hardware, including shipping and taxes.