Can I switch from Xplore to oxio?

Yes, but check your Xplore contract first to see if you face early cancellation fees. If you are out of contract, switching to oxio will likely give you a faster, more stable connection for a lower price.

Does oxio work in rural areas?

oxio works anywhere served by its wholesale cable partners (Rogers, Cogeco, Shaw). This includes many small towns and semi-rural roads, but stops short of deep rural areas. Use the address checker to be sure.

Does Xplore offer Fibre?

Xplore is rolling out fibre in select areas. If you have access to Xplore Fibre specifically, the performance will be comparable to oxio. Always check the technology type.

Maintaining a wired network in dense areas is more cost-effective per user than maintaining wireless towers or satellites for spread-out rural populations.

oxio vs Xplore: Satellite/Wireless vs Cable Internet

The bottom line

oxio is best if

✓ Anyone living in a town or suburb with a wired cable connection
✓ Gamers and video callers who need low latency (lag)
✓ Households who want to avoid restrictive data caps or traffic management policies
✓ Users wanting to avoid long-term contracts

Xplore is best if

• Rural residents living outside the reach of cable/fibre lines
• Cottage owners in remote areas
• Users who have literally no other option

★If you can get oxio, get oxio

Xplore fills a vital gap in Canada's connectivity map, serving areas that cables simply don't reach. But if you live in an area where oxio is available, you are in 'cable country'.

Choosing a wired connection like oxio offers a fundamental upgrade in stability, speed, and latency compared to fixed wireless or satellite. Plus, with oxio, you avoid the heavy contracts often required to subsidize rural installation. Use our availability checker: if your address qualifies for oxio, it's almost certainly the better performance choice.

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Topic	oxio	Xplore
Technology & Speed	oxio uses wired cable infrastructure. This means consistent, high-speed connections unaffected by wind, rain, or line-of-sight issues.	Xplore uses Satellite and Fixed Wireless. These technologies are miraculous for remote areas but typically suffer from higher latency (lag), slower speeds, and weather interference.
Contracts & Cancellation	oxio has no contracts. You can leave any time without penalty.	Xplore contracts can include substantial early termination fees (often 50% of the remaining monthly charges). They lock you in to justify the expensive equipment installation.
Data & Usage	All oxio plans come with unlimited data usage. Stream as much as you want without fear of throttling or overage charges.	Many Xplore legacy plans have data caps or 'traffic management' policies that slow your speed during peak hours or after you use a certain amount of data.
Latency (Ping)	Wired cable internet typically has low latency (10-30ms), making it perfect for Zoom calls and online gaming.	Satellite internet, even the new tech, has higher latency due to the distance the signal travels. This causes delay in conversations and makes fast-paced gaming difficult.

Before you switch checklist

Check if your current contract has an end date or cancellation fee
Note when your current billing cycle ends
Confirm oxio availability at your address
Review the total monthly cost including taxes and fees
Understand equipment requirements (modem, router)
Plan for potential service gap during transition

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Frequently Asked Questions

No, Xplore provides a necessary service for rural Canadians. However, the technology (satellite/wireless) has physical limitations compared to the wired cable network that oxio uses.

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Last reviewed: January 2026