Business Internet Cost in Canada: Guide for Business Owners
If you run a business in Canada, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Am I paying too much for internet?” It’s a fair question, and the answer is almost always “maybe.”
Business internet pricing in Canada varies wildly depending on where your office is, what technology is available, and how much bandwidth you need. A small coffee shop in downtown Toronto might pay $80 a month. A manufacturing firm in rural Manitoba needing a dedicated fibre connection could pay $2,000+.
This guide breaks down exactly what business internet costs across Canada in 2026, what drives those prices, and how to make sure you’re not overpaying. We’ve fact-checked every price range against current carrier websites and industry sources.
Not sure how much bandwidth your business actually needs?
Try our free Business Internet Calculator it factors in your employees, VoIP phones, cameras, and cloud usage to recommend the right speed and connection type for your budget.
Try the Calculator →What’s in This Guide
Business Internet Cost Chart — Canada 2026
Here’s the reality of what Canadian businesses pay today, broken down by connection type. These are monthly service costs, installation, taxes, and equipment are extra.
| Connection Type | Monthly Cost (Low) | Monthly Cost (High) | Typical Speeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable / Coax (shared) | $80 | $180 | 50–1,000 Mbps down, 10–100 Mbps up |
| Fibre Shared (GPON/FTTN) | $65 | $220 | 50–3,000 Mbps (often symmetrical) |
| Fibre Dedicated (DIA) | $400 | $3,500+ | 100 Mbps–10 Gbps symmetric, guaranteed |
| DSL | $40 | $100 | 5–50 Mbps down, 1–10 Mbps up |
| Fixed Wireless / 5G | $56 | $200 | 25–300 Mbps (varies by coverage) |
| Starlink (LEO Satellite) | $70 | $250 | 50–220 Mbps (Priority plans faster) |
| GEO Satellite (Xplornet/legacy) | $80 | $300 | 10–50 Mbps, high latency |
Key Takeaway
Most small businesses with 5–25 employees will end up paying between $80 and $220 per month for a shared fibre or cable connection with enough speed for video conferencing, cloud apps, and point-of-sale. If you need guaranteed uptime and symmetric speeds (dedicated fibre), expect $400 to $1,500+/month depending on location and speed tier.
Costs by Connection Type — What’s the Difference?
Dedicated Fibre (DIA — Dedicated Internet Access)
Dedicated fibre gives your business its own private connection — no sharing with anyone. You get guaranteed symmetric speeds (same upload and download), a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with uptime guarantees (typically 99.9%+), and financial penalties if the provider fails to deliver.
This is a different product category with different pricing. A 1 Gbps dedicated circuit in downtown Toronto currently runs about $1,100–$1,300/month. The same speed in downtown Vancouver costs $1,200–$1,500. Move to a smaller city like Kitchener-Waterloo or Saskatoon, and you’re looking at $1,400–$1,800. Rural locations can exceed $2,000/month if available at all.
Best for: Offices with 30+ employees, businesses running their own servers, VoIP-heavy companies, anyone where 15 minutes of downtime costs more than the monthly internet bill.
On-Net vs. Off-Net The Hidden Price Factor: If a provider already has fibre running into your building (“on-net”), installation is straightforward and pricing is competitive. If they need to build new fibre to reach you (“off-net”), construction costs of $5,000–$50,000 can apply, and monthly fees are typically 15–30% higher. Always ask if your building is on-net before getting a quote.
Fixed Wireless & 5G Business Internet
Bell offers Wireless Business Internet starting at $56/month (25 Mbps on a 2-year term) going up to $66/month for 50 Mbps. TELUS has Smart Hub business plans for areas without fibre. Rogers 5G is available in select urban areas.
These are solid backup options or primary connections for businesses in areas without wired infrastructure. Latency is higher than fibre and speeds vary with signal strength and weather.
Best for: Construction sites, pop-up retail, businesses in areas with no wired options, backup/redundancy connections.
Starlink for Business
Starlink shook up Canadian business internet in 2025-2026. Their residential plans now start at $70/month (100 Mbps cap), with a Priority (Business) plan at roughly $250/month that includes higher speeds, priority network access, and a service level suitable for commercial use. The business hardware kit costs approximately $3,200.
In January 2026, Starlink restructured Canadian pricing with three residential tiers: $70/month (100 Mbps), $110/month (200 Mbps), and $140/month (Max speeds). Many small businesses are using these residential plans rather than the pricier business tier. It works — just know you won’t get a business SLA.
Best for: Rural businesses with no other options, farms, remote work sites, businesses needing backup satellite connectivity.
DSL — Still Hanging On
DSL is the cheapest option ($40–$100/month) but also the slowest and least reliable. It runs on old telephone copper lines, and speed drops dramatically the farther you are from the central office. In 2026, DSL should be considered a last resort for business use. If DSL is your only wired option, Starlink at $70/month is likely better.
What Do the Major Providers Actually Charge?
Here’s what Bell, TELUS, and Rogers are charging for small business internet plans as of February 2026. Prices shown are promotional rates — regular pricing is typically higher.
| Provider | Plan | Speed (Down/Up) | Monthly Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell | Business Fibe 50 | 50 / 25 Mbps | ~$65/mo | 3-yr term, ON/QC/Atlantic. Annual increases up to $10/mo |
| Bell | Business Fibe 300 | 300 / 300 Mbps | ~$95/mo | 3-yr term, pure fibre where available |
| Bell | Business Fibe 1.5G | 1.5 Gbps / 940 Mbps | ~$130/mo | 3-yr term, pure fibre. Up to 6 Gbps total speeds on premium tiers |
| TELUS | Fibre Internet 150 | 150 / 150 Mbps | ~$105/mo | 3-yr term, BC/AB. Symmetric speeds on PureFibre |
| TELUS | Fibre Internet 1G | 1 Gbps / 1 Gbps | $160/mo | 3-yr term ($220 no-term). Bundle w/ Wi-Fi AP for $175/mo |
| TELUS | Fibre Internet 3G | 3 Gbps / 3 Gbps | $330/mo | No-term pricing. Highest shared fibre tier |
| Rogers | Business Internet 30 | 30 / 5 Mbps | ~$95/mo | ON/NB/NL. LTE backup add-on available |
| Rogers | Business Internet 1G | 1 Gbps / 50 Mbps | ~$130/mo | Cable network. Note: asymmetric upload speeds |
| SaskTel | Business infiNET | Up to 940 Mbps | ~$100–$215/mo | Saskatchewan only. Fibre available in most SK cities |
| Starlink | Priority (Business) | 135–310 Mbps | ~$250/mo | National. $3,200 hardware. Priority network access |
⚠️ Watch for Annual Increases: Both Bell and TELUS include clauses allowing annual price increases of up to $5–$10/month per service during your contract term. A 3-year Bell plan starting at $95/month could be $125/month by year three. Always read the terms and ask about price increase caps.
TELUS vs. Rogers — A Quick Regional Guide: TELUS dominates in Western Canada (BC, Alberta) with its PureFibre network offering true symmetric speeds. Rogers is strongest in Eastern/Central Canada (Ontario, Atlantic) using cable/HFC with growing fibre buildout. Bell has the broadest national footprint covering Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic, and Manitoba (as Bell MTS). Your location determines which provider gives you the best deal.
Figuring Out What Your Business Actually Needs
Before comparing prices, figure out what you’re buying. Most businesses overpay because they buy more speed than they need, or underpay and get crippled by slow uploads during peak hours.
Quick Sizing Guide
| Business Type | Employees | Recommended Speed | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo freelancer / home office | 1 | 25–50 Mbps | $50–$80 |
| Small retail / café / restaurant | 2–5 | 50–100 Mbps | $65–$105 |
| Small office / professional services | 5–15 | 100–300 Mbps | $95–$160 |
| Medium office / heavy cloud usage | 15–50 | 300 Mbps–1 Gbps | $130–$330 |
| Large office / servers / VoIP-heavy | 50–100+ | Dedicated 500 Mbps–1 Gbps | $800–$1,500 |
| Enterprise / data centre / multi-site | 100+ | Dedicated 1–10 Gbps | $1,200–$3,500+ |
Want a personalized recommendation?
Our Business Internet Calculator considers your employee count, VoIP phones, security cameras, cloud storage usage, and province to recommend the right speed and estimate your monthly cost.
Calculate Your Needs →Key Factors That Affect Your Price
Upload speed matters more than you think. If your team uses video conferencing (Teams, Zoom), cloud backup, or VoIP phones, your upload speed is often the bottleneck — not download. This is where fibre’s symmetric speeds justify the premium over cable (which typically has much slower uploads).
Static IP addresses. Many business applications (VPN, remote desktop, security cameras, email servers) require a static IP. Most providers include one with business plans at no extra charge or for a small add-on fee ($5–$15/month). Always confirm this upfront.
Contract length. Three-year terms get you the best monthly pricing but lock you in. Month-to-month is more expensive but gives flexibility. Consider a 1-year term as a middle ground, especially if your area is actively getting new fibre buildout — you might want to switch providers in 12 months when better options arrive.
Hidden Costs and Gotchas
Installation Fees
Professional installation for standard business cable/fibre typically runs $0–$200, often waived on multi-year contracts. Bell charges $60 for Wireless Business Internet installation. Off-net dedicated fibre construction can cost $5,000–$50,000 depending on the distance to the nearest network point.
💡 Pro Tip: Ask for upfront construction quotes separately from monthly service. Some providers amortize construction costs into your monthly bill over the contract term, which inflates your ongoing costs. Paying construction upfront often results in a significantly lower monthly rate.
Equipment Rental
Most providers include a basic modem/router with business plans. Advanced equipment (managed Wi-Fi access points, business-grade routers, LTE backup devices) costs extra — typically $5–$25/month per device, or $100–$500 to purchase outright. TELUS charges $15/month per Business Wi-Fi access point on a 3-year term.
Early Cancellation Fees
Breaking a 3-year contract early can cost hundreds of dollars. Calculate the remaining months × your monthly discount vs. regular price. If you think you might move locations or switch providers, a shorter term or month-to-month plan could save you money despite the higher monthly cost.
Annual Price Increases
This is the biggest hidden cost. Bell allows increases of up to $10/month per service per year during your term. TELUS has similar clauses. On a 3-year $100/month plan, you could end up paying $120–$130/month by the end. Read the fine print and ask for a price guarantee if possible.
Three Reasons Canadian Businesses Overpay
1. You’re Buying From a Reseller Without Knowing It
When a carrier doesn’t own infrastructure in your area, they resell another carrier’s service with a markup. This isn’t always bad, CLECs (competitive carriers) sometimes get wholesale rates from the CRTC and can actually be cheaper than the incumbents. But it can also mean you’re paying a 25–50% premium for the exact same circuit. Always ask: “Do you own the infrastructure that serves my building, or are you reselling someone else’s?”
2. You’re the Only Option in the Building (Monopoly Pricing)
If only one provider has wired infrastructure to your building, they know you have no leverage. Telltale signs: data caps on business plans, refusal to negotiate, or prices significantly above market rate. This monopoly dynamic is diminishing thanks to Starlink, CRTC wholesale access rulings, and government-funded fibre expansion — but it still exists, especially in older commercial buildings. Leverage tip: Even mentioning that you’re evaluating Starlink as an alternative can encourage your wired provider to sharpen their pricing.
3. You’re Paying for Construction That Only Benefits One Customer
If fibre needs to be built to your location, and you’re the only customer on that build, the full construction cost gets baked into your monthly rate. This can add $200–$500/month on top of the service price. Solutions: Ask neighbours to co-sign for the same service (spreads construction costs), ask if the carrier has any government-funded buildout planned for your area, or get an upfront construction quote, paying the capital cost once often results in a much lower monthly rate.
How to Pay Less for Business Internet
Step 1: Know What’s Available
Ask your neighbouring businesses what they use and what they pay. Services can vary building-to-building, and your neighbours’ experiences are more relevant than online reviews. Also check the CRTC Broadband Availability Map to see all providers in your area.
Step 2: Check for New Buildout
Carriers are actively expanding fibre networks across Canada, often with federal funding support. Contact a local Managed Service Provider (MSP) or IT consultant and ask what’s happening in your area. If a new carrier is building fibre on your street, prices from incumbent providers tend to drop as competition arrives.
Step 3: Don’t Buy More Than You Need
Use our Business Internet Calculator to figure out your actual bandwidth needs. A 10-person office doing email and web browsing doesn’t need gigabit internet, 100 Mbps is likely more than sufficient and could save you $50–$100/month.
Step 4: Negotiate (Yes, Really)
Business internet pricing is negotiable, especially for dedicated fibre. Always get quotes from at least two providers. Multi-year commitments, bundling with phone/mobility, and timing your contract during fiscal year-end (when sales reps need to hit targets) can all yield better pricing. Rogers and TELUS are particularly aggressive with pricing in markets where they compete directly with each other.
Step 5: Ask the Right Questions
- “Is my building on-net or off-net for your fibre network?”
- “What is the total cost including all fees over the full contract term?”
- “Are there annual price increases during the contract? What’s the cap?”
- “Can I get an SLA with uptime guarantees? What’s the penalty if you miss it?”
- “Who owns the infrastructure that will serve my connection?” (Reveals reselling)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is business internet more expensive than home internet?
Business plans include features that residential plans don’t: static IP addresses, priority support with faster response times, service level agreements (SLAs) with uptime guarantees, and sometimes symmetric upload/download speeds. You’re also paying for support that understands business needs — not a residential call centre. That said, many small businesses use residential fibre plans with business-grade routers and are perfectly fine. Read our full article on why business internet costs more.
Can I use a residential plan for my business?
Technically, most residential plans’ terms of service prohibit commercial use. In practice, many small businesses and home offices use residential fibre without issue. The risk: if something goes wrong, residential support won’t prioritize your issue the way business support would, and you won’t have an SLA to fall back on. For mission-critical operations, a business plan is worth the premium.
Is Starlink good enough for a small business?
For rural businesses without wired alternatives, Starlink is a game-changer. The new $70/month residential tier (100 Mbps cap) is sufficient for a small office. The Priority (Business) plan at $250/month provides faster speeds and priority access. Downsides: latency is higher than fibre (25–50ms vs. 5–15ms), speeds vary with congestion, and you need a clear view of the sky. It’s excellent as a primary connection where nothing else exists, or as a backup alongside wired service. See our Starlink Business Guide for more details.
What’s the difference between shared and dedicated fibre?
Shared fibre (what most businesses and all residential plans use) means you share bandwidth with other users on the same network node. Speeds are “up to” the advertised rate. Dedicated fibre (DIA) gives you a private circuit — the speed you buy is guaranteed 24/7/365, with no sharing. It costs 3–10× more but comes with an SLA and symmetric speeds. Most businesses under 30 employees don’t need dedicated fibre.
How much bandwidth does a VoIP phone use?
Each active VoIP call uses approximately 100 Kbps (0.1 Mbps) of upload and download bandwidth. So even 20 simultaneous calls only need about 2 Mbps. The bigger concern with VoIP is latency and jitter, not raw bandwidth. Ask your ISP about Quality of Service (QoS) settings that prioritize voice traffic over data. Our Business Internet Calculator factors in VoIP lines automatically.
Should I get internet redundancy / a backup connection?
If your business can’t function without internet (point-of-sale, VoIP phones, cloud-only software), a backup connection is smart. Options include LTE backup built into your router (Rogers offers this as an add-on), a secondary ISP on a different technology (e.g., cable primary + Starlink backup), or a mobile hotspot plan. The cost of redundancy ($50–$200/month) is usually much less than the cost of downtime. Read more about internet diversity vs. redundancy.
The Bottom Line
Business internet in Canada ranges from $65/month for a basic shared fibre connection to $3,500+/month for enterprise-grade dedicated circuits. Most small businesses land somewhere in the $80–$200/month range, which gets you a reliable fibre or cable connection with plenty of speed for modern cloud-based work.
The biggest mistakes businesses make are buying more speed than they need, not negotiating, and not knowing whether they’re on a resold or direct connection. Ask the right questions, get competing quotes, and use our Business Internet Calculator to figure out what you actually need before you call any sales reps.
And remember, the cheapest internet isn’t always the best value. A connection that goes down during your busiest hours costs far more than the $50/month you saved on a budget plan. Balance cost with reliability, and your business will thank you.
