As the CBC reported back on February 7, 2008 Videotron has launched its new 50megabit Internet Service, making it the fastest consumer internet provider in the country. Videotron demonstrated that you can download a full CD of songs in about 10 seconds, and a movie in under five minutes. Sounds pretty great right?
As a HUGE fan of the internet, and someone who uses it for nearly everything I welcome the news of more work being done to increase the quality of internet services for Canadians. However, as with many things (especially when it comes to the internet) the devil is in the details.
Videotron has launched their 50 meg service at 79.95 the service also comes with a complimentary 50gig usage cap with an overage charge of 1.50 per gig with no cap on your overage fees. Big downloaders will find themselves in hot water very quickly since you can now download a 700 meg movie in under 5 minutes. People using the service to watch online tv on Joost for example for just one hour a day will consume as much as 770 megs per hour (1) or 23 gigs per month! Just by watching one hour a day. Now factor in your other use, watching John Stewart on CTV’s broadband network (and what’s Stewart without a little Colbert…) You start to approach that cap.
Of course, these limitations will not bother the light or moderate internet user, but this plan is not aimed at them, its aimed at me, the big time user. I personally consume about 120 – 180 gigs per month through my various activities, and could never afford to jump on to such a price plan.
The problem I see with such plans is that they penalize people for making full use of their internet connection. With more and more content being delivered online users are demanding more and more speed…. at least, thats what these companies keep telling us.
Presently, I use a 5 megabit connection courtesy my friends at Teksavvy. I pay 30 dollars a month for 200gigs a month, and can upgrade if I need to to 40 dollars a month for unlimited. With that connection I can download movies, music, watch Joost, watch CTV Broadband and the rest. I get great service, for a great price. If my provider were to double my speed, but cap me at 50 gigs or so, I couldn’t use them. Sure, they sound better saying they are a 10meg provider, but the truth is that they are simply using the big numbers to attract customers that don’t understand the true cost, and meaning of bandwidth.
My hope, is that consumer demand forces Videotron to at least double their cap, and ultimately eliminate it. My fear, is that other providers will continue to follow the Videotron example and increase their ’speed’ whilest decreasing their usage allowances.
I’ll close today by showing you the major internet companies in Canada, and their rate plans along with their restrictions.
Bell Sympatico – 7Mbps / 60 Gig Cap – 1.50 per gig overage – $47.95
Bell Sympatico – 1Mbps / 2 Gig Cap – 7.50 per gig overage – $33.95
(Source Bell Canada Website)
Rogers – 18Mbps / 90 Gig Cap – $99.95
Rogers – 8Mbps / 100 Gig Cap $52.95
Rogers – 7Mbps / 60 Gig Cap $44.95
Rogers – 1Mbps / 25 Gig Cap $34.95
*All Rogers packages add a $3.00 / month modem rental fee.
** After searching for over half an hour I have given up looking for their overage rates.
***Postal code checked was in downtown Toronto, Ontario
Teksavvy – 5 Megs / 200 Gig Cap – .25 per gig overage – $29.99
Teksavvy – 5 Megs / Unlimited – No Overage – $39.99
(Source Teksavvy)
Videotron – 50Mbps / 50Gig Cap – 1.50 per gig overage – $79.95
Videotron – 30Mbps / 30 Gig Cap – 1.50 per gig overage – $64.95
Videotron – 20Mbps / 20 Gig cap – 7.95 per gig overage
(Source DSLReports.com)
(1) The methodology I used to come to that calculation
320 Megs per hour* downloaded + 450 megs uploaded per hour based on the maximum upload rate of 1Mbps (125kilobytes X 60 seconds X 60 minutes)
Technorati Tags: bell, bell canada, internet, internet usage, joost, overage charges, rogers, rogerssucks, tekksavvy, tekksavy, teksavvy, Videotron
One Comment
Since when was Shaw not considered a “major internet company” in Canada?
Regardless, good article, thanks!
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[...] difficult, or nearly impossible. Downloading this program would be a great way of using your Videotron 50 Meg download connection (as long as you don’t hit the [...]
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