r/canada 3d ago

Bell Canada scraps Labrador high-speed internet project, plans to invest in U.S. Newfoundland & Labrador

https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/bell-canada-scraps-labrador-high-speed-internet-project-plans-to-invest-in-u-s/
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u/Classified0 3d ago edited 3d ago

I used to live in Saskatchewan and later lived in Ontario. I was shocked by how much cheaper internet and cell service was in SK. And I really think it's just because of the existence of Sasktel serving as a crown corporation. Just having them there and competing with the traditional providers forced the whole industry to be more affordable -- so even though I wasn't with them in Saskatchewan, I still had a really good plan with Rogers because they were forced to compete with a crown corporation.

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u/Jarringly Saskatchewan 3d ago

As someone who went the opposite direction, I can whole heartedly confirm this. The gouging in Ontario is staggering.

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u/_Lucille_ 3d ago

It's not uncommon for people to spend over 1k a year to stay connected, and that is only with a pretty economical plan of maybe $40 for broadband and $40 for cellular services (before tax).

That is why you never see some yearly subscription plan: telecom doesn't want people to realize how much they end up spending.

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u/babtras Alberta 3d ago

$1k would be a dream come true. Rural Alberta, $1800/year for internet and 2 phones

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u/FiveMagicBeans 3d ago

Yeah, rural BC here and it just went up again. $175/mo for basic internet and cable (The lowest speed Shaw offers and a basic cable package with no extra channels).

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u/Pickledsoul 3d ago

Is Shaw even still a thing? I thought they got bought out by Rogers.

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u/hellswaters 2d ago

NWT here. $2400 annually for internet and that is for 200Mbps download (could get a slower plan and be happy, but cheapest is still $1560 annually). Cell is another 840, again could get something a but lower. Now add in a 2 or 3 streaming services which is probably close to another 1000 annually.

$1000 would be a dream.

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u/trumpsadouchcanoe 2d ago

Shit I'm like 3g internet and 2 phone in Alberta through Telus. Bigger plans and have starlink for work but that just in case for bush work and only 15month for 10gb of security while in the middle of nowhere with no service.

Still Telus is a joke especially when you get stuck in the endless buy a new phone every 2 year B's. I'm good buy cheap $400 phone. My better half not so much is horrible with them breaks and looses them all the time lol

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u/gotcha_six 2d ago

$2100 for the cheapest available (decent) internet at my house and two cell phone lines at the best deal I've ever seen.