Cogeco announced Thursday that it is rolling out its home internet service across most of Quebec, including Montreal, Laval, Gatineau, Sherbrooke, and Quebec City.
Residents in the new expansion areas can enter their address to confirm availability by visiting Cogeco’s website at cogeco.ca/en/internet/packages.
“After successfully bringing much needed competition to the wireless industry, today, we’re taking another critical step, expanding our home Internet service across the majority of Québec,” Frederic Perron, president and CEO of Cogeco, said in a press release. “Canadians have been clear: regional carriers, like us, are vital in providing a compelling alternative to the three dominant telecom players.”
The expansion comes after the telecom rolled out its wireless services for the first time this summer, and to more than 350 new municipalities earlier this month. The service, which operates by leasing wireless capacity from one or more of the large players, is currently only available to customers of its internet service.
The bundled play has been – and will continue to be – an important aspect of customer loyalty, as Cogeco is battling the prospect of having to face-off against the largest telecoms in the country, including Telus, which is currently using the CRTC’s wholesale internet framework to lease internet and deliver gigabit service in Quebec.
Cogeco has partnered with fellow regional telecom Eastlink to fight the CRTC policy in court and is – along with other telecoms – urging the federal cabinet to rethink what this means for competition in the long term.
