Internet availability across British Columbia
Metro Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, and the North Shore, have robust internet infrastructure with multiple providers competing for business. Vancouver Island, particularly Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, also has reasonable options.
The Okanagan region (Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton) and the Interior (Kamloops, Prince George) have more limited choices, often dominated by Telus fibre where available or Shaw cable. Remote and rural BC, the Kootenays, the Cariboo, or coastal communities, may rely on satellite, fixed wireless, or limited DSL options.
★ Why oxio serves British Columbia
oxio operates in British Columbia by leveraging existing network infrastructure to offer internet service without the massive capital investment of building physical networks. This model allows competitive pricing and a focus on customer experience rather than infrastructure maintenance.
BC's market, historically a Shaw-Telus duopoly, has been ripe for alternatives that offer different value propositions. oxio's technology-first, online-only approach appeals to tech-savvy Vancouver-area residents who prefer digital self-service to phone-based customer support.
Availability in BC depends entirely on the underlying network infrastructure at your specific address. In Metro Vancouver and major population centres, availability is generally good, but always verify using the official address checker before making plans to switch providers.
Regulatory context: what BC consumers should know
Internet service in British Columbia is regulated federally by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission). The CRTC's wholesale access policies enable resellers like oxio to operate on incumbent networks, theoretically promoting competition.
The Shaw-Rogers merger introduced new dynamics to BC's telecom market. The transaction was approved with conditions intended to maintain competition, but consumers should remain vigilant about pricing changes and service terms in the post-merger landscape.
For unresolved complaints about internet service, the CCTS (Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services) serves as the escalation path. They handle disputes about billing, service quality, contract terms, and cancellation issues.
BC's Consumer Protection Act also provides certain rights around contracts and cancellation, particularly for door-to-door sales. If you signed up for internet service at home (rather than in-store or online), you may have additional cooling-off rights.
Local notes
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- ✓If you're in a newer Telus PureFibre neighbourhood, you may have limited non-fibre alternatives, compare fibre vs cable options carefully.
- ✓BC Hydro outages can affect your internet regardless of provider, consider a small UPS for your modem and router if you work from home.
- ✓Weather events (wind, snow) in BC can cause service interruptions, understand your provider's outage policies and how to report issues.
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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