When Calgary businesses start looking for internet service, the search often begins with Telus or Rogers. These are the two most visible providers, and their marketing makes them seem like the only real options. In reality, the city’s internet market is far broader. Businesses that look beyond the big brands can often find faster speeds, lower prices, and more responsive support.
This is possible thanks to Canada’s wholesale internet framework, which requires major carriers to sell access to their networks to other internet service providers (ISPs). These wholesale, or “white label,” providers use the same physical infrastructure as Telus and Rogers but handle their own customer service and billing. By working with them, many businesses can access the same quality of service without the long wait times, inflexible contracts, and inflated prices that often come with the big providers.
The Support Difference
One of the most overlooked factors in choosing an internet provider is the quality of support. For large carriers, support is often a frustrating experience: long hold times, multiple transfers, and scripted troubleshooting steps that don’t address the problem. For a business, that means downtime, missed opportunities, and staff sitting idle while waiting for help.
Wholesale providers, by contrast, typically operate with smaller, more agile support teams. They can connect you directly to a technician who understands the service and can resolve issues quickly. For organizations that depend on consistent uptime, this responsiveness can make the difference between a minor disruption and a costly outage.
Types of Internet Connections in Calgary
Calgary offers a range of connection types, each with its own strengths and limitations.
Fiber Internet – The fastest and most reliable option, capable of symmetrical upload and download speeds and very low latency. Fiber is ideal for businesses using cloud services, video conferencing, or large data transfers. Both major and wholesale providers offer fiber in many areas of the city.
Cable Internet (Coax) – Widely available and generally capable of high speeds, but the bandwidth is shared among local users. Performance can drop during peak hours when demand is high.
DSL Internet – An older technology that is slower than fiber or cable. It may still be viable in areas with limited infrastructure, especially when multiple lines are bonded together to increase speed.
Fixed Wireless and 5G LTE – Useful as a backup connection or for temporary setups where wired infrastructure is unavailable. These are not recommended for heavy VOIP use because of higher latency and potential stability issues.
Starlink – A satellite-based service with higher costs, suited for rural businesses, temporary sites, or locations with unreliable landline service.
Dedicated vs. Shared Connections
Not all internet connections are created equal. A dedicated internet connection (often called DIA) provides a private, uncontested link from the provider to your business. Speeds are guaranteed, and service is proactively monitored with agreed-upon response times under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This makes it the best choice for businesses where uptime and consistent performance are critical.
Shared connections—common with residential-grade fiber and cable—are fast under normal conditions but can slow significantly during peak usage periods. They also lack guaranteed uptime or response times, meaning outages may take longer to resolve.
For most organizations, dedicated managed fiber offers the best combination of performance and reliability, especially for businesses running VOIP, cloud applications, or remote access services.
Avoiding the Add-On Trap
When negotiating an internet contract, businesses should pay close attention to the add-ons that providers try to include. Managed wireless and managed security are common upsells. While they may sound convenient, these services are often overpriced and deliver less capability than dedicated, standalone solutions.
For example, a “managed wireless” package might cost more than installing your own enterprise-grade access points, yet provide weaker coverage and fewer management tools. Likewise, carrier-managed security services are often basic and lack the flexibility or reporting that specialized security platforms provide.
Key Questions to Ask Your Provider
Before signing any agreement, it’s important to ask the right questions—and understand why they matter:
- Is the connection shared or dedicated?
A shared connection can be more affordable, but it risks speed drops during peak hours. A dedicated connection ensures consistent performance. - Will performance drop during business hours?
If your provider uses shared infrastructure, ask how congestion is managed and whether business traffic is prioritized. - What support is included?
Find out how you can reach support, whether you’ll be speaking to a local technician, and what the average response time is for outages. - Are there installation or rental fees?
These costs can significantly increase your first-year expenses and may affect your overall return on investment. - What are the contract terms and penalties?
Multi-year contracts can lock you into service that no longer meets your needs. Understand the cost of early termination. - Is there an SLA with guaranteed uptime?
An SLA sets clear expectations for reliability and response time, which is crucial for business continuity.
How Lumitiv Helps
Lumitiv works with every major provider in Calgary as well as multiple wholesale ISPs. This gives us the ability to compare the entire market and recommend the right match for each business’s needs. We assess your location, usage patterns, and operational requirements to find the optimal balance of speed, reliability, and cost.
By avoiding overpriced add-ons, leveraging wholesale access, and ensuring you have the right connection type, we can often deliver better performance at a lower price than sticking with the default big-brand options. For businesses that depend on reliable internet—and that’s nearly all of them—the right connection is more than a utility. It’s a foundation for productivity, communication, and growth.