Is Your ISP Playing Fair

One of the most common problems we see customers face, is poor internet service. Almost without exception, a potential customer will state that they have high speed internet.

Customers believe it to be true because that is what they have been sold. But is your ISP (Internet Service Provider) playing fair?

We urge people to look closer at their internet bill and understand better what it is they are buying each month. An internet service plan involves three main criteria:

Speed of Service

Includes two measurements; Download Speed and Upload Speed
Speeds are measured in Mbps (mega-bits-per-second)
Determines how fast you can send and receive online files (data)

Data Usage

Usage is measured in Gigabytes (GB)
Quantity of info or files you can send and receive combined
Typically the amount of data (in and out) used for a month

Cost of Service

Typically a monthly rate paid for internet access
May or may not include a ISP provided router
Covers the entire household usage (wired & wireless)

What is True High Speed?

In Canada, high speed (also referred to as “Broadband”) internet is defined only by it’s difference from dial-up internet. Broadband typically refers to the fact that it is always on rather than having to dial-up connect. As a result, the legal designation of “high speed” is a meager 1.5 Mbps or higher download rate.

By contrast in the United States, the FCC determined in 2015 that a download speed of 25 Mbps is deemed to be “high speed”.

To help illustrate the value of these numbers, Netflix recommends a minimum of 5 Mbps in order to stream videos without interruption. Viewers will note that multiple tasks on a 5 Mbps internet service at the same time would interfere even with a standard video stream quality.

What Should High Speed Cost?

There are a great many factors involved with internet costs. Speaking strictly from a Canadian viewpoint, consumers should expect a minimum of approximately $65.00 per month for true high speed service. The average high speed service within developed areas is approximately $65.00 – $125.00 per month. This would include modem/router rental fees and taxes.

These prices will vary greatly; however, depending on the provider, location, data usage and whether the service is combined (or bundled) with another service like TV or phone. It is also possible to pay much more for high speed internet services if you are investing in significantly higher speeds and/or data usages.

A typical consumer within the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) should be expecting to pay in the $60.00 – $100.00 range for high speed service that includes 40+ Mbps or higher download and a decent data usage (approximately 250 GB or higher).

Get What You Pay For

As mentioned above, what a consumer pays for high speed internet will depend on many different factors. We have found; however, that many people are simply paying too much for their internet service. One of the largest factors is availability of services in the customer’s location. Many times we find a customer paying a higher end of the scale (upwards of $100.00+ a month) and yet the service is of poor quality.

As an example, a consumer using a cable-based or DSL (phone line-based) service that is paying approximately $75.00+ a month, should expect at least a 40+ Mbps download internet service. Consumers that find their internet speed is 15 Mbps or less at this cost/rate are NOT getting a fair deal.

At a rate of (approximately) $100.00 per month, a consumer should expect at least 60+ Mbps download speed and from 400 GB to unlimited data usage. Again, these numbers are approximate averages only and many factors will adjust them accordingly. In most parts of Ontario, Rogers is a primary cable based provider and their most popular plan is 100 Mbps download with unlimited data @ $100.00/month (approx.) including modem.

How to Measure Your Service

To find out what your service should be, simply check your latest bill from your ISP. The name of the plan typically describes the speed of the internet service. Once you know what you should be getting, check for yourself and see if it is valid.

Consult this widely used OOKLA Speedtest tool at www.speedtest.net

This free service tool will measure your internet speed for both download and upload speeds plus your response time (ping). Click on the logo graphic to test your internet speed now.

Caution: Using this tool repeatedly with a cellular data device (smartphone or tablet) can consume a great deal of data

Find Out What is Right For You

As a consumer, you should be mindful of these points. If you think you are not getting a fair deal with your service and would like a second opinion, we would be happy to help.

We have a great product which can help you save money and advice is always free.

See the rest of our website for more information, or contact us with your concerns. There’s no obligation and you may just improve your services while lessening your bill.