These tools and explainers are for Canadian households comparing internet service, testing speed, sorting out Wi-Fi problems, or trying to understand provider and network terminology. Urban does not sell plans or provide official provider support.
Most useful tools first
Home internet security basics
Router passwords, Wi-Fi, updates, Microsoft Defender, VPN reality checks, smart devices, cameras, streaming boxes, cookies and safer browsing.
How much internet does my household use?
Hidden usage from streaming, game systems, phones, smart devices, cameras, cloud backup, Windows updates and capped plans.
Provider gateway vs router vs mesh Wi-Fi
Modem, router, gateway, bridge mode, mesh nodes, Wi-Fi extenders, double NAT and why Wi-Fi may not match plan speed.
Internet speed-test results explained
How to run a speed test, where to test, how to use ping, and what download, upload, latency, jitter and packet loss mean.
What is a good internet speed?
Match speed to real household use: streaming, calls, gaming, work, school, uploads and multiple users.
Why is my internet so slow?
Troubleshoot Wi-Fi, routers, modems, old devices, congestion, provider outages and plan limits.
Provider speed-test guides
Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Cogeco, Videotron, Starlink and legacy Shaw search explanations.
Market and regulation explainers
Who owns the internet in Canada?
Backbones, ISP-owned networks, points of presence, IXPs, peering, transit, CANARIE, public funding and global connections explained safely for ordinary readers.
What the CRTC does for internet in Canada
Wholesale access, the Internet Code, broadband funding, consumer complaints, and what the CRTC does not do.
Canada vs. U.S. internet resale and wholesale access
Why Canadian ISP resale/wholesale access has not worked the same way as U.S. broadband competition.
Mobile internet and 5G home internet in Canada
When cellular or 5G-style home internet can substitute for wired service, and when it cannot.
Who owns who in Canadian internet?
Rogers, Bell, TELUS, Videotron, Cogeco, Eastlink, independents, rural providers and bought-out ISP brands.
How to use these pages
- Use tools pages when you are trying to understand symptoms, numbers or plan needs.
- Use network pages when you are trying to understand ownership, wholesale access, technology or provider branding.
- Use city pages as a starting point, then verify exact address eligibility directly with a provider or current comparison tool.