TV, Internet & Phone Options in Calgary

Unlike utilities such as electricity or water, telecommunications in Calgary are competitive services — meaning homeowners can choose between multiple providers and technologies.

Your options mainly depend on:

• The neighbourhood

• Age of the home or condo building

• Existing wiring (fibre, cable, DSL)

Internet Service Providers

Calgary has two major infrastructure networks plus several independent resellers.

Major Provider #1 — TELUS

Technology: Fibre optic (PureFibre) + DSL

Coverage:

• Fibre expanding rapidly across Calgary neighbourhoods

• Newer communities most likely to have fibre connections

Typical strengths

• Extremely fast fibre speeds (up to multi-gigabit)

• Equal upload and download speeds

• Excellent for remote work and smart homes

Potential downsides

• Fibre availability varies by street or building

Best for:

• Work-from-home households

• Gamers and heavy streaming users

• Smart-home setups

TELUS fibre networks deliver very high bandwidth and low-latency connections across Calgary as expansion continues citywide.

Major Provider #2 — Rogers (formerly Shaw)

Technology: Cable internet (hybrid fibre coaxial)

Coverage:

• Widely available across Calgary

• Strong suburban coverage

Typical strengths

• Reliable speeds

• Broad availability

• Competitive bundle pricing

Potential downsides

• Upload speeds slower than fibre

Best for:

• General household usage

• Streaming families

• Areas without fibre yet

Rogers became Alberta’s dominant cable provider after acquiring Shaw’s network infrastructure.

Independent / Budget ISPs (Resellers)

Companies leasing major networks include:

• TekSavvy

• VMedia

• Lightspeed Internet

• Oxio

Advantages

• Lower monthly cost

• Often no long-term contracts

• Simple internet-only plans

Trade-offs

• Same infrastructure as major providers

• Limited TV bundles

Best for:

• Budget-conscious homeowners

• Internet-only households

Cable TV / Television Options

Traditional cable TV remains available but is declining as streaming grows.

Option A — Traditional Cable TV

Available from:

• Rogers (Shaw)

• TELUS

Includes:

• Live TV channels

• Sports packages

• Cloud or PVR recording

Best for:

• Sports fans

• Live news viewers

Option B — IPTV (Internet TV)

TELUS Optik TV delivered via fibre internet service.

Option C — Streaming Services (Increasingly Common)

Many Calgary homeowners now rely on:

• Netflix

• Disney+

• Amazon Prime Video

• Crave

Home Phone Options (Landline)

Traditional Home Phone

Available through:

• TELUS

• Rogers

Uses internet-based VoIP service and is commonly bundled.

Mobile-Only Households

Most newer homeowners skip landlines entirely.

What a New Homeowner Should Check Before Choosing

When you take possession, confirm:

✅ Fibre availability at your exact address
✅ Existing fibre or cable hookups
✅ Condo bulk telecom agreements
✅ Promotional contract terms