Ontario Internet Providers – Reviewed [2026]

Hamilton is one of the few Ontario cities where you get three full-size cable/fibre providers competing: Bell, Rogers, and Cogeco. That competition is good news for you — it keeps pricing sharper and gives you real alternatives if one provider disappoints.

Cogeco has historically been strong in Hamilton, Burlington, and the surrounding Halton/Niagara escarpment communities. They’ve rolled out gigabit service across Hamilton and have a solid local reputation. Bell Fibre has been expanding aggressively here too, and if it’s available at your address, it’s worth serious consideration for the symmetric upload speeds.

Kingston is Cogeco territory — they’re the primary cable provider here, not Rogers. This is an important distinction because it means your cable-based options (TekSavvy cable, Start.ca cable) will run on Cogeco’s infrastructure, not Rogers’.

Bell has been expanding fibre in Kingston, especially in newer developments and the downtown core. If you’re near Queen’s University, the student housing areas tend to have decent Bell DSL and Cogeco cable coverage. For the Amherstview and Gananoque communities, Cogeco also provides service.

The Niagara region is another area where Cogeco is a major player alongside Bell. Rogers also has coverage here, giving Niagara residents among the best selection of providers in Ontario outside the GTA.

Cogeco has invested heavily in their Niagara network, including gigabit-capable service in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Fort Erie, Grimsby, Beamsville, and Vineland. Bell Fibre is expanding into newer Niagara developments, though DSL is still what’s available in many older neighbourhoods.

London is primarily a Bell and Rogers market. Cogeco does not serve London, which simplifies your decision to those two (plus resellers). Bell Fibre has made significant inroads here, and Rogers cable covers most of the city well.

Start.ca (now part of Telus) has strong roots in London, they’re actually headquartered in the city and have one of the best reputations of any Ontario ISP for customer service. If you want affordable, no-contract service in London, Start.ca is worth a serious look.

KW is a tech hub (home to the University of Waterloo and a thriving startup scene), and the internet infrastructure reflects that. Bell and Rogers both compete aggressively here, and Bell Fibre has strong coverage, especially in newer Kitchener and Waterloo developments.

For the tech-savvy crowd who want no contracts and transparent pricing, TekSavvy is hugely popular in KW, they’re actually headquartered just down the road in Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Rogers cable provides solid coverage across the region.

Windsor is another Cogeco stronghold. They’re the primary cable provider in the city and surrounding areas like Leamington, Amherstburg, and Essex County. Bell also serves Windsor with expanding fibre coverage.

One thing to note in Windsor: because you’re right on the US border, be careful with your WiFi settings you don’t want to accidentally connect to a US carrier’s signal on your phone. For home internet though, the Cogeco and Bell competition means decent options for most residents.

Barrie is a Bell and Rogers market that’s grown rapidly in recent years. Bell Fibre has solid coverage in newer subdivisions, while Rogers cable covers most of the city. The rapid population growth means infrastructure has been keeping pace. Barrie residents generally have better internet options than many similarly-sized Ontario cities.

Guelph proper is Bell and Rogers territory, but head into the surrounding towns of Fergus and Elora and you’re in Cogeco country. This is an important distinction if you’re in Wellington County, your cable provider is Cogeco, not Rogers, which means your reseller options run on Cogeco’s network.

Peterborough is served by Cogeco as the cable provider, with Bell offering fibre and DSL. Cobourg and Port Hope are also in Cogeco’s service area. Nexicom is a local provider worth knowing about, they offer fibre in parts of Peterborough County and have a strong local reputation.

Northern Ontario’s largest city has a different ISP landscape than the south. Eastlink is the cable provider here (not Rogers or Cogeco), and they’ve been investing in their Sudbury network. Bell offers fibre and DSL, and local provider Netspectrum serves several northern communities with fibre, cable, and wireless.

Thunder Bay is the most remote major city in Ontario, and the internet options reflect that. Bell and Tbaytel (a local telecom owned by the City of Thunder Bay) are your main wired options. Tbaytel is unique in Ontario, a municipally-owned provider offering fibre, DSL, and wireless services. They’ve been expanding their fibre network significantly.

North Bay has Cogeco as its cable provider, plus Bell and Eastlink. It’s one of the only northern cities with three provider options, giving residents decent competition. Cogeco has been serving North Bay for years and has a well-established network here.

The Blue Mountains / Georgian Bay area is primarily Bell and Rogers territory. If you’re in the town of Collingwood proper, both providers have decent coverage. Once you get into more rural parts of the Blue Mountains, things get spottier, this is where Starlink has been a gamechanger for cottage owners and rural residents.

Muskoka is cottage country, and that means internet can be a mixed bag. In the towns of Huntsville, Bracebridge, and Gravenhurst, Cogeco provides cable service and Bell has DSL/fibre. But if you’re lakeside or between towns, your options narrow significantly.

This region has been a priority for Ontario’s broadband expansion programs. Cogeco received AHSIP funding for parts of Muskoka, and new fibre builds are in progress. In the meantime, Starlink has genuinely transformed the cottage experience for many Muskoka residents, it’s reliable enough for remote work and streaming where no wired options exist.

Eastern Ontario’s St. Lawrence corridor is served by Cogeco (Cornwall area), Bell, and various resellers. Cogeco has been in Cornwall for years and provides reliable cable service. Bell fibre availability varies, check your specific address.

Stratford and Woodstock are primarily Bell and Rogers markets. Quadro Communications is a local cooperative-owned provider worth knowing about in Perth County — they offer fibre in some areas and have genuine roots in the community.

If you’re in rural Ontario, your internet options depend heavily on what infrastructure has reached your address. Ontario has invested over $4 billion to bring broadband to every address in the province by 2025, and while that deadline has been aspirational, new fibre builds are happening across the province right now.

Here’s the rural playbook: