Top Seven ISPs in Canada by Subscriber: Q4 2005

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

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Managing Editor [May 8, 2006]

Rank	ISP	Subs. (thousands)	VoIP or Digital Phone Subs.	Date & Source
1	Bell Sympatico (DSL and dialup)	2,781		[February 1, 2006] Press Release [.pdf]]
2	Shaw (cable broadband—includes pending installs)	1,223*	90,651*	[January 12, 2006] Quarterly Report [.pdf]
3	Rogers (cable broadband)	1,145	47,900	[February 9, 2006] Press Release
4	Telus [DSL and dialup]	999		[February 17, 2006] Press Release [.pdf]
5	Vidéotron Ltée (cable broadband and dialup)	656	163,000	[undated] Company Website
6	Cogeco (cable broadband)	301*	6,907*	[January 12, 2006] Press Release [.pdf]
7	SaskTel ("internet customers" )	180		[April 10, 2006] Press Release
* as of November 30, 2005

We report VoIP or digital phone subscribers for the first time, finding Quebecois enterprise Vidéotron Ltée with a surprise lead. Of course, the ILECs all provide circuit switched telephony, which is why they are not eager to roll out digital telephony products.

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 AT&T Canada and province-wide ILEC MTS (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.

All numbers are as of December 31, 2005, except, where noted, as of November 30, 2005.

Thanks to Greg O'Brien for fixing a factual error.