SkyChoice
| File:SkyChoice Logo.png | |
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded 📆 | 2012 |
| Founder 👔 | |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Products 📟 | High speed Internet Television Phone Mobile |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | skychoice.ca |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
SkyChoice Communications is a Canadian residential, business, and wholesale telecommunications service provider headquartered in Oakville, Ontario offering a wide range of high-speed Internet services in most Canadian provinces using Cable Internet, DSL and Fibre last mile networks along with its own Wireless broadband network in parts of Ontario (branded as "WIFI.BE"). SkyChoice also offers IPTV (Internet Protocol television), VoIP digital phone and Mobile phone services.
History
SkyChoice was founded in 2012 as a provider of telecommunications services to communities across Canada. They initially offered high speed Internet service by deploying their own wireless broadband network of fiber fed towers in both urban and rural areas. Subsequently, coverage was expanded by offering service using DSL, Cable Internet and Fibre access technologies in areas outside the coverage area of its towers. Fixed wireless Internet service relies on line of sight to at least one tower at the service address which can be validated on their website.
In April 2018, SkyChoice developed and launched an IPTV digital television service in collaboration with ATOP Broadband Corp. on the Roku platform which operates on any device which supports dual-band WiFi or wired connectivity, including Roku TV's. They also designed a whole home Digital video recorder system which allows subscribers to make recordings from any television in the household to record and watch each other's recordings using a single device. [1]
Trademark challenge
On June 14, 2022, SkyChoice successfully challenged Bell Canada over their rights to use WIFI.BE as a brand for its Wireless broadband Internet service [2] [3]. After lengthy negotiations, both telecommunications service providers reached an agreement for use of the brand. The possibility of confusion was eliminated by adding a period between WIFI and BE and making the brand name the same as its wifi.be website where the services are also being marketed under. [4]
Advocacy
SkyChoice is an advocate for affordable Internet. As one of the few remaining independent Canadian telecommunications service providers, it is actively dedicated in providing an alternative to the large incumbent providers in Canada. They are an active participant in various regulatory undertakings with the CRTC such as their Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework[5] in order to mandate affordable access to incumbent high speed networks for independent Internet providers[6].
SkyChoice is also undertaking efforts to eliminate excessive fees and unfair practices by the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services as they are accepting complaints already being or have been handled by other agencies capable of making binding decisions on consumer complaints. This results in duplicate efforts and unnecessary costs being incurred [7]. These efforts have resulted in the CRTC launching Telecom Notice of Consultation 2026-31 in order to review the fee structure and fee dispute mechanism at the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services Inc. [8]. CEO Serge Cormier is quoted as stating "With these excessive fees being charged by the CCTS along with the CRTC's rescinding of their 2019 decision to lower wholesale Internet rates, it is no surprise that Canada is amongst the top 5 most expensive countries when it comes to Internet" [9]. SkyChoice Communications is also a member of the Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC)
Services
SkyChoice offers a variety of telecommunications services, including:
Internet
Internet services are offered either by SkyChoice's own Fixed wireless network along with FTTH in select areas. Service is also offered in most Canadian provinces using either DSL last mile networks from Bell Canada and TELUS or cable last mile networks from Rogers, Cogeco, Shaw, Videotron and Eastlink.
Phone
SkyChoice offers VoIP digital phone service for both residential and business customers.
Mobile phone
SkyChoice offers mobile phone service using existing provider towers which can be used in most areas of Canada where cellular coverage is available.
Television
SkyChoice offers digital TV services with a range of channels, including HD programming and on-demand options on the Roku platform. Its TV packages are customizable to meet the needs of different households with pick and pay options. A whole home PVR service is also available, which allows for all televisions in the household to record and watch each other's recordings.
References
- ↑ "SkyChoice launches IPTV service with PVR on Roku". www.satellitehome.ca/index.php?cat=telconews. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
- ↑ "SkyChoice Communications launches challenge against Bell's FIBE trademark". www.newswire.ca. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ↑ "Independent Internet Service Provider Challenging Bell over Fibe Trademark". www.thestar.com. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
- ↑ "WIFI.BE website". www.wifi.be. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
- ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). "Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework - Temporary access to fibre-to-the-premises facilities over aggregated wholesale high-speed access services". crtc.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 9, 2025. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ Canada, Service (2015-10-13). "CRTC takes action to increase choice and affordability of high-speed Internet". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
- ↑ Communications, SkyChoice (2020-11-06). "SkyChoice CCTS Arbitration". www.skychoice.ca. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
- ↑ "Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2026-31". www.crtc.ca. Retrieved 2026-02-13.
- ↑ "SkyChoice starts formal arbitration against CCTS". www.satellitehome.ca/index.php?cat=telconews. 2015-10-13. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
External links
Category:Internet service providers of Canada Category:Telecommunications companies established in 2012 Category:Mass media companies established in 2012 Category:Companies based in Ontario Category:Privately held companies of Canada Category:IPTV companies of Canada
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