Starting Monday, Rogers is set to increase Internet prices as expected, while Bell will do the same starting next month.
According to CBC News, the following price changes are coming…
Rogers Price Increases on March 12
Bell Price Increases on April 1
Telus meanwhile told CBC News it has no plans to increase Internet prices; but back in January, the company axed its bundle discount of $3 per service.
All three companies said the price increases for Internet are required, as they are needed to generate capital to upgrade their networks due to increasing demand for services.
Hey @TekSavvyBuzz , @Rogers just informed me that my monthly internet bill is going up by $8 a month!! Are you guys planning anything like that? I'm out of reasons to stick with them and I'm tired of price gouging.
— VeganOstomy (@VeganOstomy) February 26, 2018
Rogers spokesperson Michelle Kelly told CBC News in an email, “We’re continually investing to deliver great value and fast, reliable internet for our customers now and in the future as demand continues to grow.”
Earlier this week, Rogers announced its Connected for Success program, which offers low-cost Internet to social housing, surpassed 200 housing partners, as SHIP (Services and Housing in the Province) in the Peel region joined. The company also says it is increasing data caps for the program from 30GB per month to 100GB per month, available to over 150,000 eligible households.
According to Desjardins Securities analyst Maher Yaghi, in a research note (via The Globe and Mail), he explains “This was likely due to the internet being increasingly seen as a necessity for a large portion of the population,” adding “We also believe this is a symptom of TV’s diminished attractiveness to consumers.”
In 2017, Rogers earned more revenue from Internet services compared to cable TV for the first time, as customers continue to ‘cut the cord’. Bell’s 2017 Q4 saw Internet subscribers jump 47% year over year, while new IPTV sign ups slowed, and satellite customers continue to slowly cancel services.
As Canadians change the majority of their viewing habits to streaming online, they will continue to ditch cable TV. Subsequently, companies will continue to increase Internet prices to make up for television losses. But some Canadians are taking matters into their own hands by signing up for pirated live TV services, to avoid increasing prices of Internet and cable TV.
