Most Canadian households end up choosing between fibre, cable, or DSL. Here’s the plain-English version of what matters and how to decide.

Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) usually offers the best combination of speed and consistency. A big advantage is upload speed, which often matches download speed on many fibre plans.

• Great for: work-from-home, video calls, uploading files, creators, busy households
• Watch for: availability (not every address has it), promo pricing changes

Cable internet uses the cable-TV network (coax). Many cable plans deliver very strong download speeds and are a solid choice for streaming and everyday use. Upload speeds can be noticeably lower than fibre, depending on the plan.

• Great for: streaming, gaming, general browsing, households that don’t upload much
• Watch for: upload speed limits, peak-hour congestion in some areas

DSL runs over older copper phone lines. Speeds depend heavily on how far you are from the equipment serving your neighbourhood. In some places it’s fine for basic use — in others it can feel slow.

• Great for: light browsing, email, basic streaming (if speeds are decent)
• Watch for: low speeds, inconsistent performance, limited upgrade path

• If FTTH fibre is available at your address and priced reasonably, it’s often the best long-term pick.
• If you mainly stream and browse, cable can be excellent value.
• If your choices are limited, DSL can work — but check the real speed at your exact address.

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