How do I get high speed Internet in Canada?

How Do I Get High Speed Internet in Canada?

• Answer:

  Your ability to get high-speed internet at your home or business in Canada will depend on your location; your location will also determine service provider options. On the west coast, two major service providers of high-speed internet are Shaw Cable and Telus; in Ontario Rogers Cable and Bell Canada are the largest providers; in Quebec it is Videotron and Bell Canada; and on the east coast East-Link cable and Bell Canada are your two major options. Access to high-speed internet will sometimes depend on your proximity to a cable plant or communications tower; if you live in the country an internet signal may have to be transmitted long distances to get to you, and this can affect speed. Difficulty: Easy Things You'll Need Computer Internet access Phone Full address 1 or 2 pieces of official identification Instructions Every high-speed internet company in Canada has a website with detailed information about their products and services, including internet speeds, download/upload limits, and costs. Consider your needs and budget and choose a service provider. Call the local service provider you have chosen to get more information. Confirm regular pricing and inquire about any promotions that might be available to you. Ask about installation processes and installation times available. Place an order with a representative on the phone or online. You will likely have to provide one or two pieces of official identification along with your full address. You should be given options for installation days and times; a window of two to three hours is reasonable. Allow the internet service technician access to your residence or business on the installation date. They will usually run the cable line or phone line into the room or rooms where you want internet access, and hook the high-speed line up to a modem. Some service providers will then hook the modem up to your computer(s), and get your computer online before they go, but this is not always the case. Connect the high-speed modem to your PC or laptop. You will be provided with a connector line with your modem; attach one end to your modem and the other end to the internet jack at the back of your PC hard-drive or the side of your laptop (there may be a telephone symbol to indicate the internet jack). If you want to connect your internet to multiple computers, run a line from the modem to a router (which you can purchase at any electronics store), and from the router into your computers. If your modem is not a wireless modem and you want wireless connectivity, you can buy a wireless router and connect it to your modem. Tips & Warnings Tip: When you contact a service provider via telephone, ask questions in a non-committal fashion; this will often get you the best promotional offers as the sales representative won't want to lose your business. You may also get better rates if you agree to purchase other services from the company in addition to high-speed internet; most cable and telecommunications companies will have "bundle" rates when you purchase multiple services such as internet, television and phone. Warning: Beware of hidden fees, installation costs and contracts. These will usually be published on web pages; however they may be posted in fine print at the bottom or side of the page where they are less visible.