Elevate Your Home Internet Experience with Worldline’s Fibre Internet Service

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Worldline Canada

In today’s connected world, a reliable and fast internet connection is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favorite shows, or managing multiple smart devices, your internet needs to keep up. That’s where Worldline’s new FTTP fibre internet service comes in, offering unmatched speed, reliability, and performance right to your home.

What is FTTP?

FTTP PON, or Fibre to the Premises Passive Optical Network, is a cutting-edge technology that delivers fiber optic internet directly to your home. Unlike older technologies that rely on copper or coaxial cables, FTTP ensures that your connection is fast, reliable, and capable of handling the demands of modern digital life.

Why Worldline Fibre is Perfect for Your Home

Lightning-Fast Speeds: With FTTP, you can enjoy ultra-fast symmetrical internet speeds – meaning it’s the same speed to upload and download. This results in smoother streaming, quicker downloads, and a seamless online experience, whether you’re gaming, video chatting, uploading videos, or browsing the web.

High speeds and low latency minimises lag and improves file down/uploads, gaming, video meets, and browsing.

Low Latency for a Smooth Experience: FTTP offers incredibly low latency, which is crucial for activities that require real-time responses like online gaming and video conferencing. With FTTP, you can say goodbye to frustrating lags and delays.

Unmatched Reliability: One of the biggest advantages of FTTP is its resilience. Unlike traditional internet connections that can be affected by weather, electrical interference, or even your neighbor’s bad connection, FTTP delivers a stable and consistent performance. No more buffering or dropped connections—just smooth, uninterrupted internet.

Future-Proof Your Home: As the number of connected devices in homes continues to grow, so does the need for more bandwidth. FTTP is highly scalable, allowing you to easily upgrade your service as your needs evolve, ensuring your home is ready for whatever the future holds.

Why Choose Worldline for Your Home’s Fibre Internet?

Worldline is committed to bringing the best technology to Canadian households, and our FTTP service is no exception. We provide:

Quick Installation

If FTTP is available in your area, installation can be completed in just a few days. This means you can start enjoying the benefits of faster, more reliable internet in no time.

Quick installation and contract-free pricing for the win!

Competitive pricing

At Worldline, we believe in offering great value. While some providers may lure you in with lower introductory rates only to bump them up once you’re locked in, we focus on providing consistent, transparent pricing with no hidden fees and no contracts.

Perfect solution for modern households

If your household simultaneously uses multiple devices for work, entertainment, and smart home applications, Worldline Fibre ensures that everyone stays connected without compromising speed or performance.

robust customer support

Worldline’s dedicated, award-winning customer service team is always here to help. You can call, email, text, or try our online chatbot. Whether you’re upgrading to FTTP or need assistance with your existing service, you can count on us to be there when you need it.

Perfect for the modern household that needs multiple devices working at one time.

An enhanced family experience

Worldline Fibre is perfect for families. Whether it’s ensuring your kids can game online without interruption, allowing seamless video calls with friends and family, or streaming 4K content without buffering, FTTP delivers the high-quality internet experience your household deserves.

Experience the Future, Today

Upgrade your home internet to Fibre with Worldline and experience the future of home connectivity today. With faster speeds, lower latency, and unparalleled reliability, Worldline Fibre is the ultimate solution for modern households that need their internet to keep up with their lifestyle.

Call our award-winning customer service agents at 1-855-299-0025 to ask about availability in your neighbourhood.

Don’t let slow internet hold you back—contact Worldline today to learn more about our Fibre service and how it can transform your home internet experience.

The Hidden Costs to Your Internet Service Providers

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Worldline Canada

Worldline recognizes the challenges faced by Canadians due to the lack of choice and competition in the market. Our parent company, Fibernetics, is a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) that is dedicated to fostering innovation, competition, and affordability in the telecommunications industry. With the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announcing a consultation on the Internet services market, now seems a good time for us to answer some questions you may have around the CRTC and the hidden costs of the Canadian telecommunications industry.

What is the CRTC?

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was created in 1976. It is a regulatory agency which represents the public’s interest when it comes to broadcasting and telecommunications. The CRTC has long been committed to ensuring all Canadians have access to world-class communications systems and they have made several decisions in recent years to address the pain points of Canadians; namely high prices, limited competition, poor customer service, and slow internet speeds.

Their recent announcement of a consultation on the Internet services market, which includes a re-examination of wholesale rates and access to fiber-to-the-home networks, demonstrates their ongoing dedication to Canadians. While their actions are commendable, it is essential to consider the hidden costs associated with the current state of the Canadian telecommunications industry as these costs impact the quality, affordability, and accessibility of services for all Canadian consumers.

What are the hidden costs of the Canadian telecom industry and how do they affect me?

High Prices

Why they happen: The market dominance of the “Big Three” telecom companies has long been a significant pain point for Canadians who often pay higher prices for services compared to consumers in other countries. Many of the “smaller” telecos that you may think of as independent, are owned by the “Big Three”. The lack of competition means that these large providers have little incentive to lower prices or offer better services.

How does it impact me? Lack of competition in the market means you end up paying more for the services you need.

Limited Innovation

Why it happens: A lack of competition can stifle innovation in the industry. When a few companies control the market, there’s less motivation to invest in new technologies, services, or infrastructure.

How does it impact me? Less innovation means there are fewer emerging technologies which puts Canadians and our businesses at a disadvantage on the global stage.

Rural-Urban Digital Divide

Why it happens: The Big Three have largely focused on investing in urban areas, leaving rural areas underserved. The CRTC has declared broadband internet to be a basic telecommunications service, but there is still work to be done to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.

How does it impact me: The lack of investment in rural infrastructure widens the digital divide, preventing many Canadians from accessing high-speed internet services and hindering smooth digital communication between Canadians in urban and rural areas.

Inefficient Market Dynamics

Why it happens: The current market dynamics limit the potential of smaller Internet Service providers and alternate service providers like Fibernetics.

How does it impact me: Restricted access to fiber-to-the-home networks combined with high wholesale rates makes it difficult for smaller players to compete effectively, often forcing them to pass on higher costs to consumers.

What is the CRTC Consultation All About?

The CRTC’s recent announcement of a consultation on the Internet services market is a step in the right direction to address these hidden costs. By re-examining wholesale rates and considering mandating access to fiber-to-the-home networks for competitors, the CRTC is working to promote competition, lower prices, and increase choice for consumers.

Here are some of the questions they’ll be examining:

Should there be further Wholesale Rate Reductions? The CRTC has imposed an immediate 10% reduction on some wholesale rates. This move could help level the playing field for smaller ISPs and alternate service providers and allow them to offer more competitive pricing which ultimately benefits Canadian consumers.

Should large telephone and cable companies provide competitors with access to their fiber-to-the-home networks? By enabling faster Internet speeds for customers and further promoting competition in the market, the CRTC will be addressing one of the primary pain points of Canadians. Mandated access to these networks could lead to a more innovative and competitive industry, ultimately benefiting consumers with better services and better pricing.

What is the public’s opinion? The CRTC wants to remain in touch with the needs of Canadians and they are offering the public a chance to voice their concerns and opinions. This open dialogue will help inform and shape the CRTC’s decisions, ensuring the final outcomes align with consumer expectations and needs.

What are the implications of various wholesale access models on competition and consumer choice? Although the CRTC has decided not to pursue a broader implementation of the disaggregated model for wholesale access to large companies’ networks, they will maintain the model in areas where it has already been approved. This decision shows that the CRTC is carefully considering the implications of wholesale access models on consumers with respect to competition and choice.

How is Fibernetics Shaping the Future of Canadian Telecommunications?

As a CLEC, Fibernetics is committed to playing an active role in shaping the future of the Canadian telecommunications industry. We strive to be a driving force for positive change by offering innovative and affordable services to Canadian consumers. Here’s how we’re working to address the hidden costs in the current market:

Our core values and purpose displayed on the wall at our headquarters in Cambridge, Ontario

We’re fostering innovation: Innovation is one of our core values because we
believe it is the key to a thriving and competitive industry. We continuously invest in new technologies and services to bring the best possible experience to our customers. Since our origins, we have challenged the status quo and sought to inspire other providers to do the same. (And on that note, stay tuned… Fibernetics is about to make an announcement regarding its biggest innovation in its twenty-year history!).

We’re bridging the digital divide: Fibernetics is working to bridge the digital divide that has left many Canadians underserved by providing high-quality services to both urban and rural communities. We are committed to expanding our services to ensure that all Canadians have access to the fast, reliable internet they deserve.

We’re advocating for fair market conditions: Fibernetics actively engaged with the CRTC and other stakeholders to advocate for fair market conditions that promote competition, choice, and affordability for Canadian consumers. By voicing our support for policies that benefit consumers, we contribute to a more dynamic and competitive industry.

We’re delivering superior customer service: We understand that exceptional customer service is a critical differentiator in the telecommunications market. Fibernetics is committed to providing outstanding support through our wholesale services, NEWT business services, and Worldline residential services. We have a Net Promoter Score of WHAT (Compared to an average NPS of what across the Big Three) fnd our customer response time averages less than a minute. We are committed to providing ongoing outstanding support to ensure that our customers have a positive experience when interacting with our company.

How do I make my voice heard?

The CRTC’s latest consultation on the Internet services market is a promising development in the ongoing effort to address the hidden costs associated with the current state of the Canadian telecommunications industry. By re-examining wholesale rates and considering mandated access to fiber-to-the-home networks, the CRTC is taking crucial steps toward promoting competition, lowering prices, and increasing choice for consumers. 

Fibernetics is proud to be an active participant in this process, advocating for policies that benefit Canadian consumers and working to provide innovative, affordable, and high-quality telecommunications services. As the industry evolves, we remain committed to our mission of delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving positive change in the Canadian telecommunications landscape. 

From now until June 22, 2023, the CRTC wants to hear from Canadians and we encourage all Canadians to participate in the CRTC’s consultation. Voice your opinion on the future of this industry. Together, we can work toward a more competitive and consumer-friendly telecommunications market that benefits everyone.

5 Ways Technology can Connect us this Holiday Season

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Worldline Canada

With the snow falling outside and holiday songs playing in the malls (I’m assuming they’ve started playing, I haven’t actually been to a mall for a while), our thoughts turn to the time of year when we gather together to eat, drink, and be merry. While hopes are on the rise for coronavirus vaccine, we still have to face the reality that our holidays may not look exactly like a homecoming in a Norman Rockwell painting.

The Homecoming Norman Rockwell December 25, 1948

COVID cases in Canada are once again on an upward trend, so travelling long distances and enjoying extended family get-togethers is off the table. Which means we need to find virtual ways to enjoy each other’s company.

Now I don’t know about you, but the weekly FaceTime call to parents and siblings has become a bit repetitive. With none of us going anywhere or doing anything, the most exciting thing we can find to talk about is which episode of The Queen’s Gambit we re-watched last night, and who is winning in the pool for “most number of days worked in PJs in a row”. With everyday feeling like a Wednesday, the hope for the holidays is that we can shake things up a bit. For anyone feeling the same way, following is a list of ideas for how to use your technology to spend time with family and friends this season, including online games, how to watch movies together, a virtual gift exchange, and even some suggestions for this year’s office party.

Start with a Plan

Begin by picking a time when you can all get “together” and decide how you will all see each other. Will you use FaceTime, a Zoom call, Houseparty? What platform is everyone comfortable with? Consider doing a test run to make sure everyone knows how to use the chosen platform and decide where to set up your devices so you can all see each other.

Online & Mobile Games

Turns out you can be physically distanced and still play the old classics like Uno and Scrabble. This link will help you host virtual game nights over the holidays.

Game Pigeon, available through the App Store on iPhones and iPads, allows you to play basketball, pool, chess, paintball, word games, and more through iMessage. It’s a fun way to feel connected and pass time while you’re waiting for your online shopping cart to update.

For Android users, there are alternatives to Game Pigeon. And in the event that you have an iPhone and your sister has an Android, there are still lots of cross-platform games you can play together.

Not Into Gaming?

Are you used to watching Home Alone together as a family and finding the movie title hits a little too close to home this year? This article provides links and descriptions of seven different ways that you can sync movies while you chat about these strange Home Alone fan theories at the same time.

Need Something New to Talk About?

In case you do just want to talk but have run out of topics, check out this extensive list of conversation starters.

Creative Gift Giving

Gift giving can be fraught with tension at the best of times. If you’re not getting together to exchange gifts this year, check out this link for creative ways to exchange gifts virtually, as well as a few good gift ideas too.

What About the Annual Holiday Office Party?

If your office is dealing with the disappointment of missing out on the yearly holiday karaoke, consider pulling together a virtual office party instead. While it may seem unconventional, there are a lot of benefits to the virtual party: no storms or bad weather threatening to postpone or cancel the event, no one has to drive long distances or cover cab costs, no long buffet lines or special diets to contend with, and no navigating freshly fallen snow and ice in three-inch heels. It also requires a lot less planning and organization.

Set the Venue

First, pick the date, time, and “venue” (Zoom, Teams, or whatever other platform your office is comfortable using) and send out email invitations inviting everyone to the online party.

Pick a Theme

Decide if you want a theme: prizes can be awarded to participants who best embody the theme with outfits, decorations, virtual backgrounds, or dressed up pets.

Select a DJ

Pick a DJ and have them select a Spotify playlist or create one of their own. (Pro tip: Ask everyone in the company to notify the DJ of their favourite holiday song. This helps everyone feel more involved.)

Eat Together

Make sure everyone gets to eat together by sending Uber Eats gift certificates to everyone in the company a day or two ahead of the event. This way you can all order food to arrive at a specific time and enjoy together (no more cold buffet leftovers after 95% of the attendees have taken the best items!).

Distribute Prizes

Have door prizes in the form of gift cards that can be mailed out, or physical items which can be ordered online and shipped to the winners’ homes.

Use Technology to its Fullest Advantage this Holiday Season

Let’s face it, 2020 is going to live on in our collective memory as being a challenging year, to put it mildly. Not being able to be with friends and family IRL is going to make it harder for many of us, so we might as well use technology to its full advantage and find creative ways to spend time together this holiday season. Because if it’s going to be holiday none of us ever forget, we might as well make it a holiday to remember!

Cloud vs Local: Keeping Your Data Safe

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Worldline Canada

Best case scenario, the past few months gave you a lot of time to do those things you “always meant to do”. You’ve read all about the pros and cons of minimalism, started exercising at home, and found a new hobby to distract yourself from the fact that your team isn’t playing.

Have you backed-up your phone and your computer?

If that’s another one of those things you planned to get to “someday”, what better time than now?

It’s not likely you need convincing that backing up your computer is a good idea, but in case you do: If your computer is the only place all of your photos and documents are stored, and something happens to it, your data is likely gone. Forever. Enough said.

But where to start?

CLOUD STORAGE

At a bare minimum, the first step is ensure you’ve switched on any cloud backups that are part of your computer or phone operating system (iCloud, OneDrive, Google, etc) which should take care of the majority of your documents, photos, and texts.

Advantages: Cloud storage is convenient. Your data being “in the Cloud” means it’s stored on a server somewhere and you can access it anytime you want from any Smartphone with cloud icon for data backups device (as long as you have an active internet connection). Once you select and turn on a cloud service, it takes care of everything for you, making it simple and easy to use.

Cloud storage adds a layer of protection: your data is physically housed somewhere else so if your computer loss is due to theft or damage, your data is safe and secure. Also, cloud services have redundancies built in: your data is distributed across multiple locations so you’re very unlikely to lose it in the event your cloud service server experiences theft or damage.

You generally pay for what you use. Cloud storage is based on a subscription model so you’re not paying for a lot of space you don’t need.

Disadvantages: Cloud storage relies upon a good internet connection to keep updating the latest version of your data, and for restoring from a backup. So during a power outage or while travelling, any updates you make locally may be lost, and not all data may be available to you. Also, restoring from backup can take a long time, relative to a local restore.

If the data you’re storing is very sensitive, then unauthorized access to that offsite data may be a concern, but unless you have a branch of MI5 in your basement, it’s probably not going to be an issue for you.

While your operating system’s backup service will backup the majority of your content, it won’t always backup all of your computer settings or the applications you’ve installed. This can make migration to a replacement device more cumbersome than simply clicking “restore from backup”.

LOCAL EXTERNAL DRIVE

For a more comprehensive backup, consider a local external drive: a physical device you either plug into your computer or add to your network for all devices on that network to backup to.

Advantages: Backing up your data and restoring from a local backup is much faster than cloud storage. It doesn’t rely on an internet connection and it’s much easier to create multiple snapshots of your data. So, depending on how frequently you backup, your data is constantly up to date and you can roll back to earlier captures.

Disadvantages: When using a local drive there is the additional step of managing the backups and performing backups on a regular basis. To mitigate this, consider purchasing a NAS (Network Attached Storage); a hard disk on your network that allows any properly configured computer within range to backup to it automatically. This is especially advantageous for families with many devices. It’s expensive but it holds a lot of data, making it a one-time purchase.

Another disadvantage is the physical location of your local drive. Having your external hard drive in the same location as your device means that if your data loss is due to fire or theft, it’s possible your hard drive will be destroyed or stolen also.

Ultimately, a combination of cloud storage and an external drive provides the best coverage. A combination gives you the assurance of your data being safely stored at an external location, while also giving access to your most up-to-date data quickly and easily in the event you have patchy internet service such as when travelling or in a remote location.

External links for more information:

How to backup to iCloud

How to backup to OneDrive

How to backup your Android phone to Google

How to save text messages

The best external hard drives for Macs and PCs

Internet Safety: Public Wi-Fi & Online Shopping

Posted on March 12, 2020 by Worldline Canada

We’re continuing on our internet safety theme from last month and diving further into how to protect yourself online when using public Wi-Fi or shopping online.

PUBLIC WI-FI

The thought of heading to the local coffee shop to “work from home” is alluring, but how safe is it? There are risks to using public Wi-Fi that you should know about before you click that “Join” button.

What’s the difference between home Wi-Fi and public Wi-Fi?

At home you make use of a router connected to a server owned by your internet service provider. You have elected to have a relationship with your provider and you should choose a provider you trust: every search and keystroke you enter passes through their server and can theoretically be accessed (except for encrypted passwords), although the terms under which that information can be accessed should be outlined in their Privacy Policy.

With public Wi-Fi, you can’t be sure who has access to the server you’re connecting to. Additionally, it is relatively easy for hackers using the same Wi-Fi to get in between you and the public server, even posing as the “free Wi-Fi” that you connect to, thereby gaining access to your personal information. To learn more about the dangers of public Wi-Fi, take a look at this article.

So, what to do about it?

When using public Wi-Fi, you should use a Virtual Private Network. A VPN creates a secure tunnel between your computer and the VPN server so that your data is protected. To learn more about VPNs check out this article.

ONLINE SHOPPING

You’re not alone if you prefer shopping from your couch rather than heading to a busy shopping centre. Over 84% of Canadians polled in 2018 purchased goods and services online, and that number continues to grow.

Along with payment information, shopping online means providing your address, phone number, and email address. You’re also potentially giving out other personal information just by virtue of what you are buying.

To keep your information safe, there are a number of guidelines you should follow. To begin with, don’t shop using public Wi-Fi, especially without a VPN. As mentioned above, it’s relatively simple for hackers using the same public Wi-Fi to retrieve the information you’re entering.

Shop online from home

Next, when shopping online, always pay with a credit card rather than connecting to your bank account. Many sites only accept credit cards, but this should be your standard operating procedure even with payment methods that allow you to connect to a bank account, such as PayPal. Payments made with credit cards can be more easily disputed and credit card companies are quicker to reimburse your money if there has been a breach. If a hacker gains access to your bank account through details you’ve entered online, you have a much smaller chance of ever seeing that money again.

Look for the padlock icon in the URL when entering personal information

Finally, always make sure the site is encrypted by checking for the padlock symbol in the site address which ensures that information you enter is secure as it travels between your computer and the site’s server. For some good tips on how to safely use your credit card online check out this article.

With more and more everyday objects able to connect to the internet, such as watches and home entertainment systems, there’s always more we can say about internet safety. Watch for more tips from us in the future here and on social media.