Customers who once enjoyed their internet experience are furious about a recent email sent from TekSavvy. Teksavvy was known for their higher than usual bandwidth cap, or even unlimited downloading for many customers. After a CRTC ruling last week, allowing the bigger internet providers to start metering bandwidth (UBB or Usage Based Billing), they no longer have the same feeling.
"From March 1 on, users of the up to 5Mbps packages in Ontario can expect a usage cap of 25Gb (60Gb in Quebec), substantially down from the 200Gb or unlimited deals TekSavvy was able to offer before the CRTC's decision to impose usage based billing."
The reason customers were using Teksavvy in the first place, was due to the bandwidth caps that the bigger providers such as Bell and Rogers, put in place several years ago. In Canada we used to enjoy unlimited internet and many customers would even opt to pay more for slightly higher use, however now they have gone too far. Residential internet users and small business owners are both going to be paying the price.
I talked to a Toronto area wedding photography studio, Fotografs.ca, and the owner gave me insight into how it will impact his business. A typical wedding with digital SLR camera equipment, would generate between 15GB to 20GB worth of pictures. Those pictures are then edited, and sent electronically to be processed/printed. According to the CRTC ruling, and Teksavvy's response to the ruling, after even two weddings being sent electronically, the business owner will then be subject to metered billing.
Internet is a big part of how we live our lives today, and the only ones coming out ahead here, are the big providers. The cost to deliver a gigabyte of data to a customer is less then $0.10, and according to TekSavvy, customers will pay approximately $4.75 per 40GB of data, on top of their monthly internet rate. So, what does the monthly rate cover exactly? Shouldnt the monthly rate include the service being provided as well? Companies such as Netflix, who only recently entered the Canadian market, are also going to pay the price if their customers are afraid of exceeding the monthly cap.
Please, let your voice be heard and sign the petition. If we all take a stand here, maybe this time we can chalk up a win for the little guy.
Herry69
here we go again. canadian consumers are constantly being ripped off by these communications companies and the government is NOWHERE to be seen coming to their consumers defense. most people in the world experience the free internet but canadian consumers are gouged to smitherines because harper doesn’t have any balls. this government is the most useless entity in the universe.
Alacrity Fitzhugh
I don’t think the movie and music industry realizes how much of a promotion tool the internet is.
I have bought more movies due to the fact that I can watch them before I can buy them now and make informed choices. Downloading files has actually increased the movies I purchased. How can that be bad?
Even Telus was pushing it’s service for massive downloading. Some of their trucks still have the bloated frog on the side, an indicator of how much you could download.
Unfortunately Canada is under pressure from the United States to stop us vile Canadians from daring to consider the internet a “free” space. I guess what Telus, Bell and all the other providers forget that when ideas are stifled – technology finds a way.
Satellite tech has come a long way. If Telus is going to metre us down, perhaps that is the new way to go. I believe that the telephone companies are going to service charge themselves out of business.
FuriousConsumer
I completely agree with Herry69, isn’t the CRTC supposed to protect the consumer from these huge ISPs? And not only that, how does this promote healthly competition between different providers? Since ever provided now has UBB all the plans are basically going to be the same. Unlimited packages and higher bandwidth plans were the only competition against Bell and now that’s gone. So now people can no longer use streaming media such as Netflix and will have to be stuck with basic cable or satellite = more money in the huge communication companies pockets.
http://stopthemeter.ca
Billy
I’m not a fan of the CRTC, nor a supporter of usage based billing. However, the photography studio can take advantage of a business account with TekSavvy for unlimited bandwidth.
kollin
Shouldn’t the isps be required to provide free software so that we can monitor our modem usage and adjust our activities accordingly? My ISP shows me my prior 3 months usage but nothing for my current month. Most of the utilities I have found by googling cost money and/or don’t give the ability to monitor specific equipment. I need to know how much bandwidth each of my devices is eating up so that I know where to adjust. I have kids who are constantly gaming online, my tv is online, I use netflix, etc. etc. This is extremely frustrating.
Sharon
Billy is correct – business DSL packages are not affected by this capping. My coworker is just going to split the cost of DSL with the business below his apartment and not be constrained by bandwidth caps.
John
Industry Minister Tony Clement ‘has alot to do /w this`. 1st was copyright laws and now this. Tony your asshole & tell it to your face.
Myles
Make this an election issue. Then see how fast Stephen Harper or the Liberals/NDP respond to consumers.
a-ROM
I have been using TekSavvy for 8 months and it is really good, GREAT speed, even – in my opinion – better than Rogers and Bell. Our family also has 4 ppl at the age of 21-24and we use a LOT, of internet and we have never been over. I have never had a problem with them. I pay 30 bucks for 200GB while bell chargers like ~bucks for like 25gb.
Secondly yea we also need to protest, in general, to allow more telecom companies and more competiton in Canada. It is a joke how much other countries pay for cell phones use. This is no longer just about the internet, it should be about allowing more competition in the cell phone market. In India it is a cent per minute, In some European countries, you can call anywhere within that country for one fee. No long distance stuff.
alan
Just had a really bad experience with Teksavvy; they left me hanging without service for 10 days and their only resolution was that they would refund the 10 days of not receiving service. I spent 10 days in which I lost communication and business and to top it off; when they send a service person to diagnose a problem they advise you won’t be charged and you are still charged and they are not at all apologetic with false advertising or up-selling you from their $24.99 plan. Thanks..but..No Thanks! -a.
Chris
@ TekSavvy customers throttled by CRTC ruling
Bla…bla….bla…. this information/clarification given on this website is a one big lie and mannipulation.
In Europe …they have Internet up to 32Mb/s (unlimited-residential)….unlimeted….unlimited….unlimited for 20 dollars/month.
Are they different in Europe from us ? Do they have different Internet deliveres ?
Nooooooooooo……. they don’t.
Global Internet-deliverer is the same.
The difference is, that in shity Canada , thiefs like Bell or Rogers can exsist
still, crying from lousy income.- hahahahahh.\
Bell and Rogers…. mather-fu…rs ….. you lucky you in Canada.
If it happend in Europe you would be blown up over night for this swindlings you’ve been doing to whole nation. So,….don’t sell me this bullshit.