St. John’s Newfoundland Internet Providers – Reviewed [2026]
Looking for the best internet in St. John’s, Newfoundland? As Canada’s easternmost city and the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, the St. John’s metro area (population ~240,000) offers surprisingly robust connectivity options. Bell Aliant Fibe delivers true fibre-to-the-home since 2011, while Rogers and Eastlink provide cable alternatives. Use our neighborhood checker below for personalized recommendations based on whether you’re in downtown St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise, Conception Bay South, or the surrounding communities.
Find the Best ISP for Your St. John’s Area
The St. John’s CMA includes 13 communities across the northeast Avalon Peninsula. Your best ISP depends on whether you’re in the urban core with full fibre coverage, the growing suburbs of Paradise and CBS, or the more rural coastal communities where options may be limited.
⚡ In a Hurry? Our Top Picks
- True FTTH symmetric speeds up to 1.5 Gbps
- First to bring fibre to St. John’s (2011)
- Best for WFH & upload-heavy users
- No contracts, cancel anytime
- 25+ years serving Canadians
- Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
- Ignite TV + Internet bundles
- Speeds up to 1.5 Gbps
- Widely available across metro
Understanding Your Internet Needs in St. John’s
St. John’s has a unique internet landscape shaped by its geography and history. As the easternmost city in North America, it’s been a communications hub since Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal at Signal Hill in 1901. Today, Bell Aliant Fibe dominates the premium fibre market, while Rogers (formerly Shaw) and Eastlink compete in the cable space.
Key questions to ask yourself:
- How many people/devices? A student near Memorial University has different needs than a family in Paradise with kids streaming and gaming.
- Do you work from home? St. John’s has a growing tech and offshore energy sector. Video conferencing and large file uploads need strong upload speeds, where Bell’s symmetric fibre excels over cable options.
- Where exactly do you live? Downtown and Mount Pearl have excellent fibre coverage. More rural areas like Pouch Cove or the Southern Shore may need satellite or fixed wireless solutions.
- What’s your budget? Prices range from ~$35/month (TekSavvy basic) to $150+/month for gigabit fibre with TV bundles.
How to Evaluate Internet Providers
Don’t just compare advertised speeds. Here’s what actually matters:
- Upload vs Download: Cable providers like Rogers advertise fast downloads but have limited uploads (often 15-50 Mbps). Bell Fibe offers symmetric speeds (upload = download) which is crucial for video calls and cloud backups.
- Promotional vs Regular Pricing: Many providers offer low introductory rates that jump significantly after 12-24 months. TekSavvy and independent providers often have stable, long-term pricing.
- Contract Terms: Bell and Rogers often prefer 2-year commitments. TekSavvy and Urban Internet Company offer month-to-month flexibility.
- Equipment: Some providers include modems and WiFi pods; others charge rental fees. Factor this into your total cost.
All Providers in St. John’s
Aliant
Bell Aliant Fibe
Atlantic Canada’s fibre leader
Bell Aliant has been the dominant force in Newfoundland telecommunications for decades, and they brought true fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) to St. John’s in April 2011 with a $22 million investment. This was among the first citywide FTTH deployments in Canada, and today their Fibe service reaches most of the St. John’s metro area.
What sets Bell Aliant apart is symmetric speeds your upload matches your download. This is huge for video conferencing, cloud backups, live streaming, and anyone working from home. Plans range from 150 Mbps to 1.5 Gbps. The Fibe 500 plan at $85/month offers excellent value for most households.
| Plan | Download | Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibe 50 | 50 Mbps | 50 Mbps | ~$60/mo |
| Fibe 150 | 150 Mbps | 150 Mbps | ~$70/mo |
| Fibe 500 | 500 Mbps | 500 Mbps | $85/mo |
| Gigabit Fibe 1.5 | 1.5 Gbps | 940 Mbps | ~$105/mo |
Rogers (Ignite)
National cable provider
Rogers entered the Newfoundland market and operates cable infrastructure across St. John’s. Their Ignite Internet service offers competitive download speeds and strong bundle options combining internet, TV, and mobile services.
Rogers uses hybrid fibre-coax (HFC) technology for most homes, delivering fast downloads but asymmetric uploads. In select new subdivisions, they offer FTTH with symmetrical speeds up to 8 Gbps, but this is limited. For most customers, expect download speeds up to 1.5 Gbps but upload speeds maxing around 50 Mbps.
| Plan | Download | Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ignite 150 | 150 Mbps | 15 Mbps | ~$70/mo |
| Ignite 500 | 500 Mbps | 20 Mbps | ~$95/mo |
| Ignite Gigabit | 1 Gbps | 30 Mbps | ~$120/mo |
| Ignite 1.5 Gbps | 1.5 Gbps | 50 Mbps | ~$140/mo |
Note on uploads: If you work from home with lots of video calls or upload large files, Rogers’ limited upload speeds (15-50 Mbps) may be a bottleneck compared to Bell’s symmetric fibre.
link
Eastlink
Atlantic Canada’s hometown telecom
Eastlink is a Halifax-based, family-owned telecom that’s been serving Atlantic Canada since 1969. In Newfoundland, Eastlink focuses on areas outside the main urban centres that Rogers doesn’t serve. They’re particularly important for rural and coastal communities.
Eastlink uses HFC cable technology, delivering good download speeds but limited uploads. All plans include Eero 7 mesh WiFi and unlimited data. However, be aware that Eastlink has warned about potential service cutbacks in rural Newfoundland due to CRTC wholesale pricing regulations – check current availability carefully.
Watch the pricing: Eastlink’s promotional rates often jump $25-30/month after the first year. Factor this into your long-term cost comparison.
Savvy
TekSavvy
Canada’s independent champion
TekSavvy is Canada’s largest independent telecom, founded in 1998 in Chatham, Ontario. They expanded to Newfoundland in 2020, bringing their customer-first approach to “The Rock.” TekSavvy resells over Rogers’ cable infrastructure, offering comparable speeds with no contracts, no hidden fees, and generally stable long-term pricing.
What makes TekSavvy special is their commitment to advocacy – they’ve fought at the CRTC for lower wholesale rates and consumer rights for decades. Expect straightforward pricing, 24/7 Canadian support, and month-to-month flexibility.
| Plan | Download | Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable 75 | 75 Mbps | 10 Mbps | $35.95/mo |
| Cable 150 | 150 Mbps | 15 Mbps | ~$49.95/mo |
| Cable 300 | 300 Mbps | 20 Mbps | ~$54.95/mo |
| Cable 1000 | 1 Gbps | 30 Mbps | ~$68.95/mo |
Best for: Budget-conscious users who want reliable service without contracts or surprises. TekSavvy won’t be the fastest, but they’re honest and consistent.
Net
Urban Internet Company
Local Canadian reseller
The Urban Internet Company is a Canadian-owned ISP that offers home internet across urban areas nationwide, including St. John’s. They resell over both Rogers and Eastlink cable infrastructure, providing flexible options depending on which network reaches your address.
Like TekSavvy, Urban Internet offers no contracts, unlimited data, and straightforward pricing. They emphasize personalized customer service and have built a loyal following among customers looking for alternatives to the big telecoms.
Xplore (formerly Xplornet)
Canada’s rural connectivity specialist
Xplore is Canada’s largest rural-focused ISP, headquartered in Woodstock, New Brunswick. They specialize in bringing connectivity to areas where Bell, Rogers, and Eastlink don’t reach, making them essential for rural Newfoundland.
In September 2025, Xplore announced a $200 million investment to bring fibre-to-the-home to 24,000 rural Newfoundland households by 2027, building 6,000 km of fibre infrastructure. They also offer 5G Ultra fixed wireless (up to 250-500 Mbps), LTE, and satellite options for areas awaiting fibre.
Coming soon: Xplore’s massive fibre buildout is underway. If you’re in rural Newfoundland with poor connectivity today, gigabit fibre may be coming to your community within 1-2 years.
link
Starlink
SpaceX satellite internet
Starlink has been a game-changer for rural Newfoundland. SpaceX’s low-earth orbit satellite constellation delivers 50-200 Mbps with latency of 25-60ms – far better than traditional satellite internet. Users across the province report real-world speeds of 100-200+ Mbps.
In January 2026, Starlink restructured Canadian pricing with a new $70/month entry plan (100 Mbps cap) available in select areas including Newfoundland. The standard Residential MAX plan is $140/month for uncapped speeds. Hardware costs have dropped significantly – as low as $99 in NL during promotions.
| Plan | Speed | Price | Hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential 100 Mbps | Up to 100 Mbps | $70/mo (select areas) | $99-299 |
| Residential 200 Mbps | Up to 200 Mbps | $80/mo | $99-499 |
| Residential MAX | Up to 400+ Mbps | $140/mo | $499-759 |
Best for: Rural properties beyond cable/fibre reach. Starlink has transformed connectivity for communities across Newfoundland that previously relied on slow DSL or traditional satellite.
What Speed Do You Actually Need?
Don’t overpay for speed you won’t use. Here’s a realistic guide:
| Household | Recommended | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 people | 50-150 Mbps | Streaming, browsing, light WFH |
| 3-4 people | 150-300 Mbps | Multiple streams, gaming, video calls |
| 5+ people / Power users | 500+ Mbps | Heavy streaming, 4K, large downloads |
| WFH professionals | 300-500 Mbps symmetric | Video conferencing, cloud uploads, VPN |
| Content creators / Gamers | 500+ Mbps symmetric | Streaming, uploads, low latency |
Upload matters: If you work from home, prioritize upload speed. Bell Fibe’s symmetric plans beat cable providers here. A 500/500 Mbps Bell connection will feel faster for video calls than a 1000/30 Mbps Rogers connection.
Our Bottom Line for St. John’s
For most St. John’s residents, Bell Aliant Fibe 500 ($85/month) offers the best overall value – true symmetric speeds, excellent reliability, and wide coverage across the metro area. If you’re budget-conscious and don’t need heavy uploads, TekSavvy offers reliable cable service starting at $35.95/month with no contracts.
For bundle seekers, Rogers can save money if you’re combining internet with TV and mobile. And for rural Newfoundland beyond cable/fibre reach, Starlink has genuinely transformed connectivity – the new $70/month entry plan makes it more accessible than ever.
Use the neighborhood selector above to get personalized recommendations for your specific area. The right ISP for downtown St. John’s is different from Paradise, and very different from the Southern Shore.
