Top Seven ISPs in Canada by Subscriber:
Q2 2008

Broadband continues to grow in Canada, and digital phone and VoIP are becoming popular too.

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Managing Editor [September 22, 2008]

Rank	ISP	Subs. (thousands)	VoIP or Digital Phone Subs.	Date & Source
1	Bell Sympatico (DSL only)	2,013		[August 6, 2008] Press Release
2	Shaw (cable broadband—includes pending installs)	1,541	549,932	[June 27, 2008] Press Release [.pdf]
3	Rogers (cable broadband—PSTN not counted)	1,500*	745,000*	[July 29, 2008] Quarterly Report
4	Telus (DSL and dialup)	1,206		[August 8, 2008] Press Release [.pdf]
5	Vidéotron Ltée (cable broadband and dialup)	1,000	n/a	[undated] Company Website
6	Cogeco (cable broadband)	620*	447,569 *	[July 30, 2008] Press Release [.pdf]
7	MTS Allstream (DSL)	173		[August 11, 2008] Press Release [.pdf]
* as of May 31, 2008

We report VoIP or digital phone subscribers. Of course, the ILECs all provide circuit switched telephony, which is why they are not eager to roll out digital telephony products. Videotron failed to list VoIP numbers.

If you have any concerns or would like to suggest any companies be added, send us a note by using the feedback button below.

We would have liked to add other companies, such as province-wide ILEC SaskTel (Manitoba) to the list, but were unable to obtain subscriber data.

Note that Shaw has a siginificant satellite TV business under the StarChoice brand name and that Telus has a significant cellular business. Bell Sympatico has several business lines.

SaskTel's annual report notes that it provides rural service to 535 small communities and 49,000 farms. It changed the name of Navigata to its Expansion Division (i.e. for out of province services). It also has a large cellular network.

All numbers are as of June 30, 2008, except, where noted, as of May 31, 2008.