Internet for Your Apartment in Canada
Moving into a new apartment? Already in one and frustrated with your options? This guide walks you through everything Canadian renters need to know about getting the right internet at a fair price.
Here is the reality most apartment hunters in Canada do not think about until it is too late: the internet options in your building might be completely different from the building next door. Your friend in a downtown Toronto condo might have access to five providers, while you are stuck with one. Location matters, but so does the wiring inside your building, any deals your landlord has made, and whether the CRTC’s wholesale rules give you access to alternatives.
The good news is that the landscape is shifting in renters’ favour. The CRTC expanded wholesale fibre access across Canada in 2024 and 2025, meaning smaller ISPs can now resell internet on Bell’s and Telus’s fibre networks in more places than ever. That means more choice, even in buildings where only one company runs the wires.
🔎 Apartment Internet Plan Finder
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🏢 How Your Building Type Affects Your Internet
The single biggest factor in your apartment internet experience is not which ISP you choose. It is what kind of wiring runs through your building. Click on your building type below to see what to expect.
How to Find Out What Providers Serve Your Building
This is the step most people skip and it costs them money. Do not just go with the first provider you see advertised. Here is how to find all of your options:
- Ask your landlord or building manager first. They know which ISPs have wiring in the building. Some buildings have exclusive arrangements with one provider, while others have multiple options. Ask specifically: “Which internet providers have equipment installed in this building?”
- Check the big three websites with your postal code. Go to bell.ca, rogers.com, and telus.com and enter your address. Each will tell you what speeds and technologies are available at your exact unit.
- Check independent ISPs. Providers like TekSavvy, oxio, Start.ca, and Beanfield use the same physical networks (through CRTC wholesale rules) but often charge less with no contracts. Enter your postal code on their websites to see if they serve your building.
- Browse our ISP directory filtered by your province to discover smaller regional providers you may not have heard of.
- Ask your neighbours. This is underrated. A quick conversation in the elevator or hallway can tell you what providers people actually use in the building, what speeds they get, and whether they are happy.
The wholesale access advantage: Even if your building only has Bell fibre, you can still buy internet from smaller ISPs that resell on Bell’s network. The CRTC mandates that large telephone companies provide wholesale access to their fibre networks across Canada. This means companies like TekSavvy, oxio, and others can offer you internet on the same wires at a lower monthly price with no contract. The same applies to Rogers cable and other incumbent networks.
What Should Your Apartment Internet Cost?
Canadian internet pricing varies widely by province, provider, and connection type. Here is a realistic snapshot of what apartment dwellers typically pay in 2026, based on published provider rates.
| Speed Tier | National ISPs | Independent ISPs | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 to 75 Mbps | $55 to $70/mo | $40 to $55/mo | 1 person, light use |
| 150 to 300 Mbps | $70 to $95/mo | $55 to $70/mo | Couples, streaming + WFH |
| 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps | $85 to $120/mo | $65 to $90/mo | Families, gaming, heavy use |
| 1 Gbps+ (fibre) | $100 to $130/mo | $58 to $85/mo | Power users, multiple 4K streams |
Notice the gap between national ISPs and independents. Across the board, independent ISPs like TekSavvy, oxio, and Beanfield typically charge $10 to $30 less per month for the same speed on the same physical network. The tradeoff is that you may not get bundling discounts, and technician visits can sometimes take longer to schedule since the independent ISP coordinates with the network owner.
Apartment renters’ pricing tip: Unlike homeowners, you should almost never sign a long-term contract. You might move in a year. Look for month-to-month plans, which most independent ISPs offer by default. The big three also offer month-to-month options, though they usually cost $5 to $10 more than their promotional contract prices. That extra cost is worth it for the flexibility.
For a personalized estimate of what you should be paying, try our Internet Cost Calculator.
Bulk Internet Deals and “Internet Included” Buildings
Some apartment buildings and condos include internet as part of your rent or condo fees. This is called a bulk internet deal, where the building owner negotiates a discounted rate with one provider for all units. It sounds great on paper, but there are a few things to know.
Pros of bulk internet
- Internet is ready the day you move in. No scheduling, no waiting for a technician.
- The per-unit cost is lower, often $30 to $50 per month embedded in rent, compared to $70 to $100 if you set it up yourself.
- Everyone on the same provider means less Wi-Fi interference from competing routers on different networks.
Things to watch out for
- Speed may be limited. Bulk deals sometimes lock the building into a lower speed tier than what is available on individual plans. Ask what the actual speed is before assuming it is enough for your needs.
- You are stuck with one provider. If the bulk provider has outages or poor customer service, you cannot switch without setting up a separate individual account.
- You are paying for it either way. “Included in rent” means the cost is baked into your monthly rent. If you prefer a different provider, you would be paying twice.
- No individual account means no individual support. If there is a problem, you may need to go through your landlord or building manager instead of contacting the ISP directly.
⚠️ Ask before you sign your lease: “Is internet included in the rent? If so, which provider, what speed, and can I opt out if I want my own plan?” These three questions can save you months of frustration.
✅ Apartment Move-in Internet Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure your internet is sorted before or immediately after moving day.
Can You Switch Providers in Your Apartment?
Yes, almost always. This is one of the most misunderstood topics for Canadian renters. Even if your building only has one set of wires, you usually have options thanks to CRTC wholesale access rules.
Here is how it works:
The CRTC requires Canada’s largest ISPs (Bell, Rogers, Telus, SaskTel, Cogeco, Eastlink, Vidéotron) to share their networks with smaller independent providers at regulated wholesale rates. This means if your building has Bell fibre, you can buy internet from TekSavvy, oxio, or any other reseller that uses Bell’s network. If your building has Rogers cable, you can buy from TekSavvy, Start.ca, or other cable resellers. The physical connection stays the same. Only the billing and customer service change.
The switching process itself is simple. Under CRTC rules, your new provider handles the transfer on your behalf. You do not need to call your old provider to cancel. You do not need to give 30 days notice. Your new ISP contacts the old one, and the switch typically happens within a few business days.
When switching ISPs is NOT straightforward: If your building has a proprietary network (like Beanfield’s own fibre or a building-specific system), you are limited to that provider for that network. However, you may still be able to get service from a different ISP through a different type of wiring in the building (for example, ordering Rogers cable even though the building also has Beanfield fibre). Ask your building manager what physical connections exist in your unit.
For a step-by-step guide on reducing what you pay your ISP, see our guide to lowering your internet bill, which includes negotiation scripts and your full CRTC rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, no. In Canada, the CRTC’s framework ensures that tenants have the right to choose their own telecom provider. Your landlord can offer bulk internet as part of rent, but they cannot prevent you from setting up your own individual account with a different provider if wiring access exists. If your landlord is blocking you from getting your own internet installed, you can file a complaint with your provincial landlord-tenant board.
Check whether cable internet is available at your address, as many buildings wired for cable TV can also deliver cable internet at much faster speeds than DSL. Also check if Bell or Telus fibre reaches your building, even if DSL was the only option in the past. Fibre rollouts have expanded significantly in 2024 and 2025. If wired options are truly limited, Starlink or other fixed wireless providers may be worth considering. Our Starlink hub has more information.
For a single person who streams video and browses the web, 50 to 75 Mbps is plenty. For a couple who both work from home, 150 to 300 Mbps gives comfortable headroom. For a household of 3+ with gaming, 4K streaming, and multiple video calls, 500 Mbps to 1 Gbps is worth the investment. Use our Internet Cost Calculator to get a personalized recommendation.
If you plan to stay for more than a year, buying is almost always cheaper. ISPs charge $10 to $15 per month to rent equipment, which adds up to $120 to $180 per year. A good modem and router combo costs $100 to $200 and pays for itself quickly. Just make sure the modem is compatible with your ISP’s network before purchasing.
In apartment buildings, Wi-Fi interference is extremely common because dozens of routers are all competing on the same frequency bands. Before assuming your ISP is the problem, test your speed over a wired ethernet connection. If wired speeds are fine but Wi-Fi is slow, the issue is your wireless setup, not your internet plan. For practical solutions, see our apartment speed tips guide.
MDU stands for multi-dwelling unit (apartment buildings, condos, townhouse complexes). The CRTC has rules that prevent building owners from granting exclusive access to a single provider and blocking competitors. Telecom providers have the right to access the building’s common areas to install and maintain their equipment, provided they follow reasonable procedures set by the building owner. If a provider wants to install wiring in your building and the owner is refusing, the CRTC can intervene.
Which ISPs Are Available at Your Address?
Our city guides break down providers, pricing, and coverage for every major Canadian city.
Find Your City Guide →Related Apartment Guides
Boost Apartment Internet Speed · Secure Your Apartment WiFi · Sharing Internet in Apartments · Lower Your Internet Bill · Internet Cost Calculator
About This Guide
Written and fact-checked by the InternetAdvice.ca editorial team. CRTC wholesale access rules verified against Telecom Regulatory Policy 2024-180 and subsequent 2025 orders. Pricing reflects published rates from major and independent ISPs as of February 2026. We have no affiliate relationships with any ISP mentioned in this article. Last updated February 2026.
