Rogers and Bell are at it. Home Internet prices are set to increase, yes, again. According to sources at Rogers and Bell, the price increase is due to investments in their respective networks. Though possible seems odd price hike is almost in unison. Rogers’s price hike is effective March 12th and Bell’s will be in April. These always seem to fall around the same time for the past few years.

Typical Rogers’s increase is $4 for plans with a download speed of 20Mbps or less, or $8 for those 20Mbps or higher. So $48 more per year for the lower end plans and $96 for Rogers’s higher-end plans.

Bell in general likes to hike the home internet, home phone, and long-distance, and prices are seen up from $3 a month up to $5 a month. Annually Bell customers can expect to pay $36 to $60 or more, depending on the Bell services the customer has contracted. Ironically, the more Bell products bundled in the higher the monthly increase. A prime example as to why one should unbundle when possible.

With that said, here comes the best part, in-spite of Rogers and Bell claiming investment on their networks if you are an existing customer, then sorry. All you’ll get is a biffed up Monthly Bill for the very same old services.  At this time and age, this type of coordinated price increases is quite frankly outrageous. Honestly, is the most decent thing we can say.

To put perspective the impact of price increases is very well documented. Already back in 1912, yes you read that right more than a century ago, it was well known that price increases were driven either by:

• a change in the supply and demand,
• distribution of wealth,
• development or creation of new products or pushed
• by outside influential factors that impact the good to be sold.

So Rogers and Bell would like us to believe their rate hikes have nothing to with wealth distribution (otherwise known as a simple cash grab) or maybe trying to recuperate some of the losses they have due to failed business endeavors elsewhere. Here is one big hypocrisy; two of our major ISP (Internet providers) which would have to invest in their chosen line of business anyway, want us, their customers, to foot their business operations bill. With no visible or tangible net benefits, not now or ever. Ludicrous, if you think about it. But regrettably, it happens. It has happened before, and if history is to be considered it will happen again.  Take the bread price fix scandal; which thus far has got Loblaws giving away $25 gift-card to pretty much everyone. Just one example of how widespread and prevalent the practice of price-fixing and coordinated cash grabs just because is.

Sometimes, we have to say enough is enough and take our hard-earned loonies to whoever provides the best service at the best price. From time to time we may end up eating up a price increase. Mainly because we are complacent and we perceive it as mission impossible to switch internet providers. All the work that is required, research which one is better and all may look daunting. The good news is that there are many alternative internet providers. Now the bad news is that the share volume of choices can make it look complicated.  Overwhelming to chose the right one.  But @Gonevoip we have cleaned it up and you get to see all the providers and appreciate providers’ ratings, with editorials and user reviews. We can say Canadians do not shy away from giving their feedback!

As to help those in need of a narrow set of choices; we’ll highlight here three contenders, top choice providers. These providers are what are known as last-mile internet providers. The internet backbone they use is the same as the one provided by Rogers and Bell, in fact, in many cases, they provide service using the very same network. The only differences, no price hikes and in most cases a lot of friendlier customer support.

For the sake of comparison, we looked at full home internet plans with 25Mbps or higher, with unlimited data usage.

– Heronet

• Technology: Cable
• Download: 30 Mbps
• Upload: 5Mbps
• Usage: Unlimited
• Monthly: $48.88 (If Paid annually is $586.56)
• Install: If you transfer service, say from Rogers, then the install fee of $25 is waived
• Modem:  You can get one on loan (called free rental), BYOD, buy a new one ($75) or buy a used one ($25).
• Router WiFi: You can buy one, (TP-Link at $90) or use your own.
• Availability: Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. Plans may vary slightly from Province to Province.
• Current Offer: In Ontario all-new Cable Internet customers for the month of March have the install fee waived.

– Altima Telecom

• Technology: Cable
• Download: 75Mbps
• Upload: 10Mbps
• Usage: Unlimited
• Monthly: $49.95
• Install: $59 (Called Activation. If paid annually fee is Waived. If there was no Cable in the house other fees may apply)
• Modem:  Free Loan (Called free rent. A $60 deposit is required) or use your own
• Router WiFi: Maybe Integrated with Modem or use your own
• Availability: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec
• Current Offer: Free First month of service