The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Bell Canada is launching direct-to-cell satellite service in 2026, offering customers video, voice, text and broadband data through a partnership with Texas-based AST SpaceMobile Inc. The Globe's Irene Galea writes that it is the latest effort by a Canadian company to provide connectivity to the country's most rural and challenging geographies, as global space companies race to sign customers and major deals with cell carriers. "What we're intending to do in 2026 is start rolling out the service, and we would expect customer trials in that period," with details about a full-scale commercial launch coming later, said Bell chief technology officer Mark McDonald. Bell's coming satellite feature follows that of rival Rogers, which began offering text-only direct-to-satellite service in July using SpaceX's Starlink low-Earth-orbit satellites. Rogers plans to expand to data and voice in the future. The service costs $15 a month. Mr. McDonald said the company felt that it could provide more value to customers by focusing on data and voice capabilities, given that cellphone equipment makers such as Apple are already building basic satellite service into their devices.