TV, Internet & Phone Options in Winnipeg

Unlike hydro, gas, and water, telecommunications in Winnipeg are competitive services — meaning homeowners can choose between multiple providers and technologies.

Your options mainly depend on:

• The neighbourhood

• Type of home (house vs condo)

• Existing wiring (fibre, cable, DSL)

Internet Service Providers

Winnipeg has two major infrastructure networks plus several smaller resellers.

Major Provider #1 — Bell MTS

Technology: Fibre optic (Fibe) + DSL

Coverage:

• Fibre expanding rapidly across Winnipeg

• Some older areas still DSL-based

Typical strengths

• Very fast fibre speeds (up to multi-gigabit in some areas)

• Strong upload speeds (important for remote work & gaming)

• Bundling discounts with TV and phone

Potential downsides

• Fibre availability varies by street

• DSL areas may have slower speeds

Best for:

• Work-from-home households

• Heavy streaming or gaming

• Smart homes

Major Provider #2 — Rogers (formerly Shaw in Western Canada)

Technology: Cable internet (coaxial)

Coverage:

• Available almost everywhere in Winnipeg

• Very consistent citywide availability

Typical strengths

• Reliable speeds

• Widely available

• Often competitive promotional pricing

Potential downsides

• Upload speeds slower than fibre

• Speeds can fluctuate slightly during peak times

Best for:

• General family usage

• Streaming households

• Areas without fibre yet

Independent / Budget ISPs (Resellers)

These companies lease infrastructure from the big networks:

• TekSavvy

• VMedia

• Oxio

Advantages

• Lower monthly cost

• Simple plans

• No long contracts (often)

Trade-offs

• Same physical network as major providers

• Limited bundled TV/phone options

• Customer support varies

Best for:

• Budget-conscious homeowners

• Internet-only households

Cable TV / Television Options

Traditional cable TV is now just one of several choices.

Option A — Traditional Cable TV

Available from:

• Rogers Communications

• Bell MTS

Includes:

• Live channels

• Sports packages

• Local Winnipeg stations

• PVR recording

Best for:

• Sports fans

• News watchers

• Households wanting live TV simplicity

Option B — IPTV (Internet TV)

Delivered through internet service instead of cable lines.

Often bundled with Bell MTS fibre packages.

Option C — Streaming Services (Increasingly Common)

Many Winnipeg homeowners skip cable entirely and use:

• Netflix

• Disney+

• Amazon Prime Video

• Crave

• YouTube TV (limited Canadian availability)

Best for:

• Lower monthly costs

• On-demand viewing

• Cord-cutting households

Home Phone Options (Landline)

Landlines are optional today but still used by some homeowners.

Traditional Home Phone

Available through:

• Bell MTS

• Rogers Communications

Uses:

• Internet-based digital phone service (VoIP)

• Often bundled cheaply with internet.

Mobile-Only Households

Most new Winnipeg homeowners now skip landlines entirely and rely on cell phones.

What a New Homeowner Should Check Before Choosing

When you take possession, confirm:

✅ Fibre availability at your exact address
✅ Existing cable/fibre hookups in basement or utility panel
✅ Condo bulk agreements (some buildings include internet)
✅ Contract buyouts from previous owners (rare but possible)