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Rogers Decreases Internet Bandwidth

By Lannie Le at 1:45 pm on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 // 32 Comments

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Recently Rogers has significantly lowered bandwidth limits on some of its most popular Internet Service plans. What does it mean for Rogers customers? Our buck is getting a lot less bang. A lot less. Why am I not surprised.

Rogers didn’t make any public announcements regarding these service cutbacks. What a shame. Customers had to find out the changes to Rogers services from CBC News, and later, the Toronto Star. Lite service now comes with 15Gb bandwidth instead of 25Gb, and overage fee increases from $2.50/Gb to $4.00/Gb over the limit. Ouch. Extreme service now gets 80Gb instead of the previous 90Gb limit. What does this mean? New Extreme customers would have to pay 16% more to upgrade to Extreme Plus if they want the same level of service as the previous Extreme plan.
This bandwidth slash came in a few days after Netflix announced their plan to enter the Canadian market. Netflix is a popular online movie service that allows subscribers to view streamed video content online.

Rogers denies that bandwidth cut has to do with Netflix.

While Rogers denied that the bandwidth cut had anything to do with Netflix’s plan, it is obvious that it is in the company’s best interest is to make customers weary of bleeding bandwidth service from streaming or downloading content. Intended results are obvious: Rogers wants you to ensure you stay with their Cable TV services. In response to the angered public, Rogers said these adjustments were made to “reflect the changing nature of customer’s online behaviour”. Okay Rogers, not sure what kind of reports you receive, but last time I checked, people are surfing, streaming, and downloading more content than ever before. Who are you lying to?

A few TED talks, YouTube videos, and Internet radio will exceed your bandwidth.

I have the Extreme service at home, which gives me 90Gb of bandwidth monthly. Now, the number might look big, but it sure isn’t. Due to the nature of my work, I am always connected, uploading and downloading. I listen to Internet radio; it is virtually on whenever I am awake. On average, I watch a couple of hours of streamed content daily, including TED talks, news bits, best of web highlights, and of course YouTube. I don’t watch as much content online as some people, but I exceed my bandwidth limit every month. You can see why I am not pleased (and many others) by this ridiculous cut back in service.

“… a new Rogers Ultra-Lite customer in 2006 was given an unlimited bandwidth cap. In 2008, that was reduced to a cap of 60GB and in 2010 that cap was reduced to 2GB. To get back to the 60GB cap, a new Rogers customer would have to forego the $28 Ultra-Lite package and subscribe to the $47 a month Extreme package, an effective price increase of 75%.” as reported by Digital Home Canada (link).

Who does the CRTC serve?

So looks like, Rogers bandwidths aren’t going up anytime soon. I would suggest that it might be a good time to look for an alternative ISP, but the truth is, that we don’t have enough competition, and the big boys are pretty much all the same. The reality we are dealing with is that CRTC seems to bow down to the telecom companies rather than to the will of the people. This is why Canadians pay amongst the highest in the world for mobile and Internet services.

What do you think about Rogers’ move, Bell, CRTC and Canada’s lagging telecommunication services compared to the rest of the world? Let us know your opinion on the matter. Comments are welcome.

——

Lannie will be following this story and CRTC related stories in the next several Chill Session Newsletters.

Lannie Le is a Creative Director at Pixel Dreams. She is an expert in Art, Design, Technology and is passionate about human rights, net neutrality and Star Trek.
Follow her on Twitter at _lannie.

George

Canada seems like verizon in the states except acts without impunity from the government. At least in the states congress is looking into this, but in canada nope.

George
George

Canada seems like verizon in the states except acts without impunity from the government. At least in the states congress is looking into this, but in canada nope.

George
Rohan Jacob

i liked the Rogers logo with horns…that really reflects their services…you should promote and pitch it to them…
Rohan Jacob

i liked the Rogers logo with horns…that really reflects their services…you should promote and pitch it to them…
http://www.netfuel.ca Mike

I am not surprised. Rogers has always been known in my books as a company full of crooks and unprofessional customer service. I’m sure you all know what I mean…

It seems too many people give in to Rogers crooked system and allow themselves to be controlled by these companies that think they have all the power. Customers need to stop being weak and giving in to whatever Rogers wants.

I use to be a Rogers customer and then told them to F&*K OFF one day cause every time (every month) I would call in, the customer services reps would get my requests wrong after reviewing my monthly bill. It was never a surprise that every month Rogers had to reimburse me. I try to imagine what it would be like to be one of their call centre agents having to deal with pissed off customers every day.

Sorry readers, I know this probably isn’t the place to vent but when ever I hear of Rogers, my face goes all red and I turn into a crazy lunatic.

F*&K ROGERS!!!
http://www.netfuel.ca Mike

I am not surprised. Rogers has always been known in my books as a company full of crooks and unprofessional customer service. I’m sure you all know what I mean…

It seems too many people give in to Rogers crooked system and allow themselves to be controlled by these companies that think they have all the power. Customers need to stop being weak and giving in to whatever Rogers wants.

I use to be a Rogers customer and then told them to F&*K OFF one day cause every time (every month) I would call in, the customer services reps would get my requests wrong after reviewing my monthly bill. It was never a surprise that every month Rogers had to reimburse me. I try to imagine what it would be like to be one of their call centre agents having to deal with pissed off customers every day.

Sorry readers, I know this probably isn’t the place to vent but when ever I hear of Rogers, my face goes all red and I turn into a crazy lunatic.

F*&K ROGERS!!!
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

Have you tried TekSavvy? Not only are they an awesome internet provider with unlimited plans for $40/month, but they have been actively lobbying the CRTC to force Bell and Roger to “play fair”; for example, they were the company who blew the whistle on Bell’s bandwidth throttling practices. http://teksavvy.com/en/res-internet.asp

I personally want internet and phone companies to behave like utilities: charge me only for what I use! None of this X per month with a limit of Y, modem rental and system access extra.. just bill me $0.02/minute or megabyte. Heck, charge me less at night, just like Hydro does, if internet is less in demand then!

Anyone have a spare billion to start an ISP+phone company?
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

Have you tried TekSavvy? Not only are they an awesome internet provider with unlimited plans for $40/month, but they have been actively lobbying the CRTC to force Bell and Roger to “play fair”; for example, they were the company who blew the whistle on Bell’s bandwidth throttling practices. http://teksavvy.com/en/res-internet.asp

I personally want internet and phone companies to behave like utilities: charge me only for what I use! None of this X per month with a limit of Y, modem rental and system access extra.. just bill me $0.02/minute or megabyte. Heck, charge me less at night, just like Hydro does, if internet is less in demand then!

Anyone have a spare billion to start an ISP+phone company?
http://www.mickeyhioe.com Mickey Hioe

I second ‘Teksavvy’. I switched my ISP from Rogers to Teksavvy 4 years ago and a couple month ago, I kicked Bell’s ass and make Teksavvy as my POTS provider.

It’s funny that Teksavvy; as a Bell reseller; can provide better service and cheaper price than Bell itself.

I wish I have more options on cable TV – right now I’m still with Rogers.
http://www.mickeyhioe.com Mickey Hioe

I second ‘Teksavvy’. I switched my ISP from Rogers to Teksavvy 4 years ago and a couple month ago, I kicked Bell’s ass and make Teksavvy as my POTS provider.

It’s funny that Teksavvy; as a Bell reseller; can provide better service and cheaper price than Bell itself.

I wish I have more options on cable TV – right now I’m still with Rogers.
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Thanks for your comments guys.

Geoff, it is my first time hearing of TekSavvy. I will check them out. Do they provide residential services? We have Beanfield at our office, they are great, but they only provide services to businesses.

I don’t support this duopoly of Rogers & Bell. How can we pride ourselves among the large technology capitals of the world while our data plans are still ridiculously high?
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Thanks for your comments guys.

Geoff, it is my first time hearing of TekSavvy. I will check them out. Do they provide residential services? We have Beanfield at our office, they are great, but they only provide services to businesses.

I don’t support this duopoly of Rogers & Bell. How can we pride ourselves among the large technology capitals of the world while our data plans are still ridiculously high?
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

Yes, Teksavvy provides residential internet and phone lines. Sadly, Teksavvy isn’t a true “competitor”, because it re-sells Bell and Roger’s services. (The CRTC forced Bell and Rogers to resell their services.) However, as Mickey pointed out, they still manage to beat them at their own game.

Good luck.. see you next time for the “our cell phone companies suck” discussion.
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

Yes, Teksavvy provides residential internet and phone lines. Sadly, Teksavvy isn’t a true “competitor”, because it re-sells Bell and Roger’s services. (The CRTC forced Bell and Rogers to resell their services.) However, as Mickey pointed out, they still manage to beat them at their own game.

Good luck.. see you next time for the “our cell phone companies suck” discussion.
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Didn’t see your comment there Mickey. So Teksavvy does provide residential services. Nice to know!
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Didn’t see your comment there Mickey. So Teksavvy does provide residential services. Nice to know!
http://shipwrckd.com JJ

That’s IT. I am switching to TeK Savvy ASAPPP!!!!

Although, I heard from a rogue Futureshop employee/Tek Savvy customer that the company is at the mercy of Rogers, and still uses their tech support team. It took them 3 weeks to resolve his issue. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
http://shipwrckd.com JJ

That’s IT. I am switching to TeK Savvy ASAPPP!!!!

Although, I heard from a rogue Futureshop employee/Tek Savvy customer that the company is at the mercy of Rogers, and still uses their tech support team. It took them 3 weeks to resolve his issue. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
http://www.mernagh.ca matt mernagh

clearly rogers is screwing its customers. its time to switch. this company is famous for terrible customer relations. the changing customer base might be people simply getting rid of cable.
http://www.mernagh.ca matt mernagh

clearly rogers is screwing its customers. its time to switch. this company is famous for terrible customer relations. the changing customer base might be people simply getting rid of cable.
Lorena

Oh great!!! I better double check my monthly plan and see what I am really getting charged for. Last time I checked, they were over-charging me for the home plan, which really is more of a scam than a great ’saving,’ and when I called to complain they tried selling me on another ‘great’ plan. Sigghhh….I have gone from one service provider to another. I feel like I am running out of options
Lorena

Oh great!!! I better double check my monthly plan and see what I am really getting charged for. Last time I checked, they were over-charging me for the home plan, which really is more of a scam than a great ’saving,’ and when I called to complain they tried selling me on another ‘great’ plan. Sigghhh….I have gone from one service provider to another. I feel like I am running out of options
Susan

Hey fellow Rogers protesters!

Did you know that Rogers has something called a “Customer Retention Department” for people who have had it up to here with their ridiculous rates and poor service??? This department is a gold mine for negotiating better rates or getting upgraded services as Rogers generally only employs them to deal with worst case scenarios where people want to cancel their plans, etc. All you have to do is call the Rogers Customer Relations Department at 1-888-936-7283 (or more easily accessed by calling *611 from your Rogers cell) and say “cancel my phone” at the automated machine. This will in turn connect you to retentions.

Just politely inform them that you are shopping around and noticed that other ISPs are offering the same service for less money and ask if they would consider offering you the same price. At first they may try to negotiate with you and you may not get what you want on your first attempt but if you approach it in a polite and courteous manner, they tend to be much more receptive to your needs. At the end of the day, the retention department is there to retain you as a customer and not loose you to a competitor, so you will likely get a much better deal than what you are currently getting.

Hope this helps!
Susan

Hey fellow Rogers protesters!

Did you know that Rogers has something called a “Customer Retention Department” for people who have had it up to here with their ridiculous rates and poor service??? This department is a gold mine for negotiating better rates or getting upgraded services as Rogers generally only employs them to deal with worst case scenarios where people want to cancel their plans, etc. All you have to do is call the Rogers Customer Relations Department at 1-888-936-7283 (or more easily accessed by calling *611 from your Rogers cell) and say “cancel my phone” at the automated machine. This will in turn connect you to retentions.

Just politely inform them that you are shopping around and noticed that other ISPs are offering the same service for less money and ask if they would consider offering you the same price. At first they may try to negotiate with you and you may not get what you want on your first attempt but if you approach it in a polite and courteous manner, they tend to be much more receptive to your needs. At the end of the day, the retention department is there to retain you as a customer and not loose you to a competitor, so you will likely get a much better deal than what you are currently getting.

Hope this helps!
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Thanks Susan, that’s a very useful bit of information.
http://www.pixeldreams.com Lannie

Thanks Susan, that’s a very useful bit of information.
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

JJ: yes, teksavvy is very much as the mercy of Bell or Rogers.. but my understanding is they do their best to protect you from their BS. I’m glad they started offering cable as well!

Good luck everyone!
http://mbl.ca Geoff Oakham

JJ: yes, teksavvy is very much as the mercy of Bell or Rogers.. but my understanding is they do their best to protect you from their BS. I’m glad they started offering cable as well!

Good luck everyone!
katrine maroukis

I’m so glad I’m not with Roger’s…the Red Deathstar.
katrine maroukis

I’m so glad I’m not with Roger’s…the Red Deathstar.
http://www.pixeldreams.com/share/blog/2010/12/oecd_broadband_stats-crtc_repor/ Merry Christmas from the CRTC! « Creative Digital Agency Toronto

[...] A follow-up on Rogers Decreases Internet Bandwidth – August 4th, 2010. [...]
Sam

Frustrated with Rogers?
Join the Facebook page, voice your frustrations and help make Rogers less shit.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rogers-Mobile-Stop-Being-a-Ripoff-Start-Helping-People-Communicate/137789069622587

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Rogers Decreases Internet Bandwidth

Rogers denies that bandwidth cut has to do with Netflix.

A few TED talks, YouTube videos, and Internet radio will exceed your bandwidth.

Who does the CRTC serve?

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