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Canadian Internet: Its really made of crap.

deactivated-5e376fa88bd45 · 2009-08-14 07:15:39

You know, I've always enjoyed being Canadian. Sure our weather is craptacular and some things can be a tad expensive, but all in all, its a decent country. We do have 'Corner Gas' after all. That is, if you exclude the sorry affair that is the Internet here in Canada. Just to give an idea of just how much we suck here, our Broadband growth is rated 29th out of 30th while our cost vs speed is ranked 27th out of 30th. Meaning that we are paying a crapload of money for really slow speeds(relative of course to the rest of the world). This is largely because of two Draconian companies otherwise known as Bell and Rogers, who control phonelines and cable respectively. But right now, i feel compelled to focus on Bell since they've just been allowed to pull off a big giant jerk move against third party Internet Service Providers. Bell internet is pretty bloody expensive. It really is. And alot of poor sods(I feel your pain I really do) don't have a choice, either because nobody else can offer in there area or there bound by some terrible contract. Just to illustrate how expensive it is: They offer a 3MBPS service with only 60 GB bandwidth(I'm damn sure at this point its gone significantly lower) for a ridiculous 34.95 per month(at its lowest price) and then up you to 50 bucks a month after a year. Sometimes there may be unexpected increases in charges and they don't have the decency to tell you about it and in some of the worse case scenarios will renew your contract without telling you. Back in the day, Bell used to be better. They did at least have the decency to offer unlimited bandwidth services at one point, but now they don't offer it anymore and have upped the price tag for internet. I'm not the only one pissed off here, i'm damn sure that alot of my fellow Canadians on this board who have had an extremely terrible experience with Bell Internet services(sattelite TV and phone even i'm sure). Now here is where it gets all the more irksome. Bell is really huge. Like Monopoly huge. Its to the point where it has such a vast influence on the government. Case in point:http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/03/13/bell.threatens.can.govt/ I think some context is needed. In order for third party DSL companies to compete, they need to rent the lines from Bell Canada who by law, is required to sell them those lines in the first place. Its about $20 for each line, which is ludicrously high considering that most third party DSL ISPs usually sell thier lines to customers for 30 bucks. Unfortunately, Bell has a level of control over these lines. For instance, the smaller ISPs using Bells lines can't have services above 5mbps. In another instance the CRTC recently has allowed them to throttle their lines without there permission. In laymans terms: P2P networks speeds get capped to 20 kb/s. Naturally the smaller ISPs did try to fight the throttling issue, but of course Bell came out victorious. Considering this level of high dependency on Bell lines to operate, its no wonder why Bell withholding the tech can be such a huge deal. Few people have the choice to jump on something else like I did. I'm personally with Teksavvy. There a wonderful bunch really. Offer you 5mbps speeds with 200 GB bandwidth for 30 bucks a month with hellishly good tech support and none of that bull with contracts. I do however fear that with Bells latest decision(the first link), that my ISP may no longer be an option, and that I will no longer have anymore options to opt for. Beyond, protest, writing to your MP and submitting complaints to the CTRC(all of which are ineffective) i fear that not much can be done. Though i'm seriously considering another option. Though it involves heads being on the recieving end of blunt objects.

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ferrari2001

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#51 ferrari2001

Member since 2008 • 17772 Posts

[QUOTE="ferrari2001"]ahh I love American internet, 6mbps download, with unlimited bandwidth all for 39.99 per month. I'm so glad I don't live in Canada. Locke562

6Mbps? My god, that's terrible >_>

my speed is 6.85 mbps and the national average is 6.75 so I think the speed is fairly good.

15 years ago

DeadMan1290

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#52 DeadMan1290

Member since 2005 • 15754 Posts

[QUOTE="Locke562"][QUOTE="ferrari2001"]ahh I love American internet, 6mbps download, with unlimited bandwidth all for 39.99 per month. I'm so glad I don't live in Canada. ferrari2001

6Mbps? My god, that's terrible >_>

my speed is 6.85 mbps and the national average is 6.75 so I think the speed is fairly good.

Mines 6,36:(

15 years ago