Telcan is an independently owned internet service provider, offering affordable cable and DSL plans to Ontario and Quebec. Although the company was founded in 1998 as a long-distance phone service, Telecan recently began offering budget-conscious home internet plans for Canadians looking for an alternative to the more traditional (and expensive) plans offered by the Big Three of Bell, Rogers, and Telus.
In this guide, we break down the Telcan coverage map and suggest the best plans based on where you live.
Telcan coverage map
Telcan’s internet coverage map spans Ontario and Quebec. The provider operates on its own network, though it uses Rogers, Bell, and Videotron to bring that network into residences, commonly referred to as “the last mile” of service.
Telcan’s DSL plans, which offer basic internet services at low rates, are available in both provinces. Telcan’s cable internet plans, however, are specific to your province, with different speeds and prices based on where you live.
While both DSL and cable internet connections are common in Canada, they are vastly different. DSL, short for digital subscriber line, connects you to the internet through telephone lines. On the whole, DSL plans are among the slowest in Canada, with download speeds between 5-75Mbps. Cable internet, on the other hand, provides internet to your home through coaxial cable networks that you might also use for cable television. Generally, cable plans are faster, with download speeds ranging from 10-1,500Mbps.
If you want to see the speeds for Telcan’s DSL and cable plans, you can check that out below.
Telcan availability
Telcan is available in most areas of Ontario and Quebec, though you’ll need to confirm with the ISP to ensure they can activate service at your address. To do that, head to the Telcan website and click “Change Address” under the banner advertising their current deals.
After you type in your address (including the Unit Type and Unit Number), click “Check Availability.” If Telcan is available at your location, you’ll find a list of plans you can activate. If Telcan is not available at your location, no plans will appear.
If you’re in Quebec, the best Telcan plan is the Cable Q120, which offers 120Mbps downloads, 15Mbps uploads, and unlimited data for $60/month. If you live in Ontario, we recommend the Cable 100, which gives you 100Mbps downloads, 30Mbps uploads, and unlimited for just $45/month.
Telcan internet speed
Telcan promises download speeds as fast as 300Mbps and upload speeds as fast as 30Mbps. In our review of the provider, we noted that Telcan’s mid-range plans—like the Cable Q60, Cable 100, and the Cable Q120—are more than fast enough for most households.
Here’s a breakdown to compare the speeds for each of Telcan’s home internet plans:
Plan | Availability | Max download speed | Max upload speed | Shop this plan |
---|---|---|---|---|
DSL 10 | Ontario and Quebec | 10Mbps | 1Mbps | $38/month |
DSL 50 | Ontario and Quebec | 50Mbps | 10Mbps | $42/month |
Cable Q60 | Quebec | 60Mbps | 10Mbps | $45/month |
Cable 100 | Ontario | 100Mbps | 30Mbps | $45/month |
Cable Q120 | Quebec | 120Mbps | 15Mbps | $60/month |
Cable 300 | Ontario | 300Mbps | 30Mbps | $75/month |
The Canadian government defines 50Mbps download and 10Mbps as “good internet speed,” which means nearly all of Telcan’s plans meet that standard. If you’re interested in seeing your current internet speed before buying a new plan, be sure to check out our internet speed test.
Choosing the best internet coverage
If you’re hesitant to activate a new plan, we recommend considering the following before making a payment.
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Determine your ideal speed.
Most households don’t need the fastest plans available. The Canadian government deemed 50Mbps downloads and 10Mbps uploads as “good internet speed.” If you’re interested in gaming or streaming across multiple devices, we recommend something faster, but we don’t think plans that promise over 1Gbps downloads are worth their pricetags, especially because most routers can’t actually deliver those speeds. -
Read the fine print.
Most ISPs raise prices are a few months of service. Be sure to calculate that into your budget. It’s tempting to spring for the cheapest plan, but they often end up costing much more a year into the contract. -
Check out our guides to the best internet plans in Canada.
Believe it or not, we actually like studying this stuff. We’re always tracking the best internet plans in Canada, along with the best internet service providers. In addition, we’ve got guides to the best plans for specific ISPs, including Telcan.
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