TekSavvy: Canada’s Most Important ISP You Have Probably Heard Of

TekSavvy is not just another internet provider. It is arguably the most important independent voice in Canadian telecommunications, and in 2026, its existence is both a testament to stubborn persistence and a cautionary tale about how hard it is to compete against Canada’s telecom oligopoly.

Founded in 1998 in Chatham, Ontario, TekSavvy operates as a wholesale based ISP, meaning it pays regulated rates to use Bell and Rogers network infrastructure and resells internet service under its own brand. The result: comparable speeds on the same physical networks, but with no contracts, transparent pricing, Canadian based customer support, and a price tag that is typically 30 to 50% less than what the Big Three charge at regular rates.

TekSavvy was voted Toronto’s best ISP nine consecutive years by NOW Magazine readers, which says a lot about how tired Canadians are of the Big Three’s pricing games. But the company has also spent years (and significant money) fighting the CRTC and incumbent telecoms in court over wholesale access rates, a battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in 2025 and did not go in TekSavvy’s favour. That fight matters because it determines whether independent ISPs can survive in Canada at all.

TekSavvy Plans & Pricing (February 2026)

TekSavvy’s plans vary by region and by the underlying network technology at your address. Pricing is month to month with no contracts. Some plans include 12 month bill credits as a promotional incentive. All plans include unlimited data.

Cable Plans (Rogers/Cogeco Network)

DSL Plans (Bell Network)

Fibre Plans (Select Areas of Ontario & Quebec)

Promotional pricing on cable plans (shown above with “promo”) reflects 12 month bill credits for new customers. After 12 months, prices revert to regular rates, which are roughly double: $65.95 for 30 Mbps, $77.95 for 100 Mbps, and $143.95 for 1 Gbps. Unlike Bell and Rogers, there is no contract penalty for cancelling when the promo ends, so you can simply switch or renegotiate. Fibre pricing tends to be more stable since TekSavvy controls more of the cost structure on its own fibre network.

Which TekSavvy Plan Is Right for You?

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How TekSavvy Works: The Wholesale Model Explained

Understanding how TekSavvy delivers internet is important because it explains both its strengths and limitations. TekSavvy is a wholesale based ISP, sometimes called a reseller, though that term undersells what the company does.

The Basics

Canada’s telecom regulator, the CRTC, requires large network owners like Bell and Rogers to sell wholesale access to their infrastructure to independent companies at regulated rates. TekSavvy buys this access, handles its own billing, customer service, and account management, and sells internet to you on a month to month basis. The physical wires carrying your internet are the same ones Bell or Rogers customers use. A technician from Bell or Rogers typically handles installation and physical line repairs.

What This Means in Practice

Your speeds on TekSavvy cable will be the same as Rogers cable at the same tier. Your DSL performance will match Bell DSL. The internet experience is identical because it is literally the same infrastructure. Where TekSavvy differs is in pricing (lower), contracts (none), transparency (higher), and customer service (Canadian based, generally better rated, though not perfect). The trade off is that when a physical line issue occurs, TekSavvy has to dispatch a Bell or Rogers technician, which can add a day to resolution time compared to being a direct customer.

TekSavvy’s Own Networks

TekSavvy also operates its own infrastructure in two areas. First, its fibre network serves select communities in Ontario and Quebec with genuine FTTH delivering symmetrical speeds up to 1.5 Gbps. Second, SkyFi is TekSavvy’s fixed wireless LTE service for rural southwestern Ontario, providing roughly 25 Mbps to areas that lack cable or DSL. These proprietary networks give TekSavvy more control over performance and pricing, though availability is limited.

Coverage: Where TekSavvy Is Available

TekSavvy serves 10 Canadian provinces with coverage that varies by technology. Click your region for details.

The CRTC Fight: Why TekSavvy’s Battle Matters to Every Canadian

This is the part that makes TekSavvy different from every other ISP in Canada. The company has spent years and significant resources fighting for lower wholesale access rates at the CRTC, in federal courts, and all the way to the Supreme Court. This is not just corporate posturing. It directly affects what every Canadian pays for internet.

In 2019, the CRTC ruled that the wholesale rates Bell and Rogers charged independent ISPs were inflated and ordered them substantially lowered. TekSavvy immediately passed savings to customers, reducing prices or increasing data caps for 85% of its subscribers. Then in 2021, the CRTC reversed itself and kept the higher 2016 rates, a decision that TekSavvy called “disastrous.” The reversal came amid controversy over a private meeting between then CRTC chair Ian Scott and Bell CEO Mirko Bibic.

TekSavvy challenged the reversal through the Federal Court of Appeal and ultimately to the Supreme Court of Canada, which dismissed TekSavvy’s appeal in March 2025. The company continues to advocate for six specific reforms: stopping predatory pricing by incumbents, examining structural separation of networks, mandating fibre access at fair rates, requiring transparency on private network deals, mandating both aggregated and disaggregated wholesale access, and regular monitoring of competitive ISP market share.

The stakes are real. The CRTC reported in 2024 that independent ISPs in Ontario and Quebec serve 47% fewer customers than they did just two years prior. Many competitors have been acquired by the Big Three or shut down entirely. TekSavvy calls itself “one of only a few meaningful competitors left.” Whether you use TekSavvy or not, their regulatory advocacy benefits every Canadian who wants competitive internet pricing.

TekSavvy vs Bell & Rogers: The Real Comparison

TekSavvy wins clearly on price, transparency, flexibility, and customer service. Bell and Rogers win on maximum speed tiers, direct network control (faster outage resolution), and bundling options. For most Canadian households who do not need speeds above 1 Gbps and do not want to deal with contract games and billing surprises, TekSavvy is the straightforward better deal. If you absolutely need 3+ Gbps symmetrical fibre or heavy bundling, you will need to go directly with Bell or Rogers.

TekSavvy vs Other Independent ISPs

Among independent ISPs, TekSavvy stands out for its breadth of coverage (10 provinces), its own fibre and wireless infrastructure, its TV and phone services, and its unmatched regulatory advocacy. Oxio tends to offer sharper pricing with a sleeker online experience. Start.ca is beloved in Ontario for excellent customer service. Primus offers aggressive promotional pricing on Bell fibre but requires a 24 month commitment. All of them are dramatically better than going direct with the Big Three for most households. The best approach is to check which independents serve your specific address and compare their current pricing.

Pros and Cons

Frequently Asked Questions