Setting Up Internet and TV at Home

Start with your building

Before you shop, ask your landlord or building manager whether internet is included in your rent, and which providers serve your address. In many apartment buildings only some providers are available, so check availability by address on each provider's website.

Types of home internet

• Cable uses the same network as cable TV.
• Fibre runs light signals through fibre-optic lines.
• DSL runs over telephone lines.
• Fixed wireless and satellite serve places where wired options are limited.

Which types are available, and how fast they are, depends on your address and the plan, so compare real offers. If you need to get online before your home service is installed, a mobile hotspot from your phone plan can bridge the gap. See Choosing a Phone Plan in Canada.

What to compare

• Speed. Both download and upload matter. Video calls and cloud backups need good upload speed.
• The price after the promotion ends. Ask whether an introductory price rises after a set period.
• Contract length and cancellation fees. Month-to-month plans give you freedom to switch.
• Installation and equipment. Ask about setup fees and whether the modem or router is rented or included.
• Data limits. Check whether there is a monthly cap and what happens if you go over.
• Bundles. Add up what you'd actually use before assuming a package is cheaper.

Setting it up, step by step

1. 1

   Step 1: Check what's available at your address

   Use each provider's address checker, and ask neighbours or your building manager which service works well there.

2. 2

   Step 2: Compare two or three offers

   Include smaller regional and independent providers if any serve your area.

3. 3

   Step 3: Get the full price in writing

   Ask for a written summary of the monthly cost including taxes and fees, the contract length and any charges for ending early, before you agree to anything.

4. 4

   Step 4: Book installation

   Some providers send a technician, while others send a kit to install yourself. Ask which you'll get and how long you'll wait.

5. 5

   Step 5: Secure your Wi-Fi

   Change the default network name and password, and don't share the admin login for your router.

Your rights: the Internet Code

Since January 31, 2020, a mandatory code of conduct from the CRTC (the telecom regulator), called the Internet Code, has applied to large internet providers and to retail fixed internet services such as cable, fibre, DSL, fixed wireless and satellite. It's meant to make contracts easier to understand, prevent “bill shock” from overage fees and price increases, and make it easier to switch providers ^[1]. Read the details on the CRTC's Internet Code page.

If you have a problem, try to resolve it with your provider first. If it is still unresolved, you can submit a complaint to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS), an independent body whose complaint service is free to consumers ^[2].

TV and streaming

You don't need a cable TV package to watch TV. Many people rely on streaming services, and in some areas an antenna picks up free over-the-air channels. If you do want a TV package, compare it to the combined cost of the streaming services you'd really use.