[LinuxSIG] Local ISP recommendations

[Ron / BCLUG]

Darren Duncan wrote on 2024-01-14 18:36:

> And in particular, those with experience with TekSavvy, are there any
>  gotchas or potential surprises I should be aware of?

When there is an issue, TekSavvy generally has to get Shaw / Bell / 
Telus to deal with it as TekSavvy mostly uses their infrastructure.

This can be problematic and may add a day to getting resolution.


Fortunately, it very rarely happens. Once that I can remember in the 
past 10 (at least) years.


> Do you feel they provide good service?

Definitely.  It's nice to deal with a company that I don't begrudge 
giving money to, and even feel good about it.


> Note that I realize an alternative is I can try and negotiate a
> better rate with Shaw, but I don't currently want to do that, and I
> like the option of not having a contract.
Not having a contract is great, and the independent ISPs are *really* 
struggling these days. TekSavvy is one of the few remaining.


The bigger telcos offer bundling prices that entice people.

The bigger telcos offer "ONLY $xx / month" (in tiny print: for the first 
x months. On a contract written in blood. Costs first-borne to escape").

All behaviours deserving of consumer backlash.



Also, with fibre to the premises being The Future™, there will 
increasingly only be one viable / desirable (fibre) provider per region.

Unless reasonable wholesale pricing is dictated by the CRTC, DSL will 
die, and cable is probably past its prime. It'll linger, but may become 
as welcome as DSL & landlines.


So, I'm happy to support the independent ISPs like TS and hope they 
stick around for a long time. (But I'm rather concerned.)


rb