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The Canadian government compels the major telecommunications providers to lease their services to independent ISPs. Getting internet service installed with an i

by II2II 4y ago

The Canadian government compels the major telecommunications providers to lease their services to independent ISPs. Getting internet service installed with an independent ISP literally involves a visit from the major telecommunications provider and the service is pretty much equivalent to what the major telecommunications provider offers. The difference is price. Few of the independent ISPs try to attract customers with special offers since their rates are typically lower than their provider's consumer internet rates to start with, even when you consider the major provider's special rates. The company I'm with was almost apologetic when they raised their rates, twice over the past decade, even though their increases were lower than inflation and the major ISPs were increasing their rates nearly every year. They don't play games with customer retention. If you want to cancel, they cancel. If you don't really want to cancel, well, you won't get a special rate. While a part of the independent ISP's advantage is due to the rates they pay being regulated, I get the impression that they also keep their costs down by not playing games. It also keeps my costs down since I don't fall prey to their games. It also reduces the stress in my life since I really don't like playing exploitive games. Choice is good. EDIT: clarification.

kneebonian 4y ago
I've heard that the only thing worse for our friends to the north than their cell carriers is their ISPs. Is this the case? Do you mind sharing your speeds and cost?
- II2II 4y ago
  $58 CAD for a 100/10 Mb/s, which is fine for my use. The cheapest advertised plan from the company actually providing the service is $116 for a 350/10, which is $11 more expensive than a 1000/15 from the company I go through. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but internet service had caps in most parts of Canada a while back. Around here, it is unlimited from all of the ISPs. It is also worth noting that a lot of the complaints come from rural customers. Living in the city, I have very few issues. (For example, the download speeds are over the advertised rate. It is supposed to be uncommon to get the advertised rates in rural and even suburban areas.)
nulbyte 4y ago
The result sounds similar to what happens in some places in the U.S., where you'll find a reseller or two that offer the same service as a major ISP with a better rate plan. Such is the case here in Louisville, Kentucky. IgLou resells AT&T. They don't play the promotion game, and their plans are better. While AT&T's fiber plans feature asymmetric speeds, IgLou offers the same up and down on every plan. They've changed their published prices recently, but I'm still paying the same price I did when I signed up. They don't offer the plan I have anymore, and I didn't even know it until I went looking for prices considering an upgrade, because they also don't call and bother you every year or 6 months trying to get you to buy more schlock you don't know. It's great to get AT&T's network without having to deal with AT&T. More places should be like that.

by II2II 4y ago

kneebonian 4y ago

I've heard that the only thing worse for our friends to the north than their cell carriers is their ISPs. Is this the case? Do you mind sharing your speeds and cost?

II2II 4y ago
$58 CAD for a 100/10 Mb/s, which is fine for my use. The cheapest advertised plan from the company actually providing the service is $116 for a 350/10, which is $11 more expensive than a 1000/15 from the company I go through. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but internet service had caps in most parts of Canada a while back. Around here, it is unlimited from all of the ISPs. It is also worth noting that a lot of the complaints come from rural customers. Living in the city, I have very few issues. (For example, the download speeds are over the advertised rate. It is supposed to be uncommon to get the advertised rates in rural and even suburban areas.)

nulbyte 4y ago

The result sounds similar to what happens in some places in the U.S., where you'll find a reseller or two that offer the same service as a major ISP with a better rate plan. Such is the case here in Louisville, Kentucky. IgLou resells AT&T. They don't play the promotion game, and their plans are better. While AT&T's fiber plans feature asymmetric speeds, IgLou offers the same up and down on every plan. They've changed their published prices recently, but I'm still paying the same price I did when I signed up. They don't offer the plan I have anymore, and I didn't even know it until I went looking for prices considering an upgrade, because they also don't call and bother you every year or 6 months trying to get you to buy more schlock you don't know. It's great to get AT&T's network without having to deal with AT&T. More places should be like that.