Freqently Asked Question About Business Internet
What is business internet and how is it different from residential internet?
Business internet is a commercial-grade connectivity service engineered for professional environments. Unlike residential plans built for casual, shared use, business internet comes with contractual uptime guarantees (SLAs or SLOs), dedicated bandwidth options, faster upload speeds, static IP addresses, and priority technical support. Residential plans are designed for entertainment and browsing — business internet is built for reliability, performance, and accountability. CanComCo helps Canadian businesses compare and select the right plan across all major providers.
Can you install Business Internet at your home?
Yes. If you operate a home-based business, you can subscribe to a business internet plan at a residential address — many Canadian providers support this. The advantage is real: you get business-grade SLAs, static IPs, and priority support that no residential plan provides. However, you will not get managed WiFi service for Residential address. Use CanComCo’s serviceability check to confirm which providers serve your home address and what business plans are available.
What internet speed does my business actually need?
It depends on the number of users, the applications you run, and how intensively your team uses the connection. A practical starting point: 25-50 Mbps per active user for standard tasks like email, video calls, and cloud apps. If your business runs VoIP, video conferencing, large file transfers, or cloud-hosted platforms, budget higher. CanComCo’s site check tool helps assess your requirements and compare plans from Rogers, Telus, Bell, and others so you pay for what you actually need.
What is symmetrical internet speed?
Symmetrical internet means your upload speed equals your download speed — for example, 500 Mbps down and 500 Mbps up. This matters significantly for businesses that upload large files, host video calls, use cloud storage, operate VoIP, or run applications that send as much data as they receive. Most residential and cable plans are asymmetric, with upload speeds a fraction of download speeds. Fiber and DIA connections typically deliver symmetrical speeds.
What is the difference between shared and dedicated business internet?
Shared internet means your bandwidth is split among multiple businesses or users on the same physical infrastructure. Performance fluctuates during peak hours as neighbours consume capacity. Dedicated internet — such as DIA — reserves a fixed amount of bandwidth exclusively for your business at all times, with no contention from other users. Dedicated is more expensive, but essential for businesses that cannot tolerate inconsistent speeds or unexpected downtime. Read Our Dedicated Internet Access Pricing guide to know more.
What is a Service Level Agreement (SLA) in business internet?
An SLA is a formal contractual commitment from your provider specifying performance guarantees — typically an uptime percentage (e.g., 99.9%), outage response times, and repair timelines (MTTR). If the provider fails to meet those standards, you are entitled to service credits. SLAs are standard with DIA and premium business plans. CanComCo compares SLA terms across Rogers, Telus, Bell, and others so you know exactly what protection you have before signing anything.
What happens if my business internet goes down?
With a proper business internet plan, your provider is contractually obligated to respond and restore service within the timeframes defined in your SLA. You will have access to a dedicated business support line — not a residential call queue. If your setup includes a failover or backup connection, traffic automatically switches to the secondary link to keep your business running. Without a backup, you are offline until the primary is restored. CanComCo strongly recommends pairing any primary connection with a failover solution.
Does my business need a static IP address?
If your business hosts servers, uses VPNs, operates business VoIP systems, runs remote desktop access, or needs external parties to reliably connect to your network, then yes — a static IP is essential. Static IPs do not change, making them predictable for these use cases. Dynamic IPs, standard on residential and entry-level plans, change periodically and can disrupt services. Most business internet plans from Rogers, Telus, and Bell include static IP options.
Do I need a contract for business internet in Canada?
Most business internet providers in Canada require a 1- to 5-year contract, particularly for fiber and DIA. Month-to-month options exist but typically carry a premium monthly rate. Contracts often come with installation fee waivers and locked-in pricing. CanComCo compares contract terms across providers and negotiates on your behalf to secure the most favourable conditions available for your situation.
Is business internet tax-deductible in Canada?
Generally, yes. If the internet connection is used for business purposes, it qualifies as a deductible business expense under CRA guidelines. For home-based businesses, the deductible portion is calculated based on the percentage of usage attributed to the business. Consult a Canadian accountant or the CRA website for guidance specific to your business structure and filing status.
How long does it take to get business internet installed in Canada?
Timelines vary by technology and provider. Cable/COAX can be installed in as little as 5-10 business days. Optical Fiber typically takes 1-3 weeks, depending on whether a new line must be run to your building. DIA installations require 30-90 business days, longer if last-mile infrastructure is not already in place. Fixed Wireless typically takes 4-6 weeks depending upon the equipment availability. CanComCo provides an honest, address-specific timeline upfront so there are no surprises after you commit.
What is the installation process for business fiber internet?
The process begins with a site survey to confirm fiber availability at your address. A technician then runs fiber cable from the nearest network node to your building if needed, installs the ONT (Optical Network Terminal) at your premises, and connects it to your internal network equipment. Final testing confirms speeds match the contracted tier. Providers like Rogers, Telus, and Bell manage the physical installation through their certified field technicians.
How long does DIA installation take in Canada?
DIA installation in Canada typically takes 30 to 90 business days. The range depends on whether fiber already reaches your building, provider network capacity in your area, municipal permitting requirements, and last-mile construction complexity. CanComCo manages the coordination process with your chosen provider and keeps you informed throughout — so you are not chasing status updates on your own.
What is the installation process for fixed wireless business internet?
Installation starts with a site survey to confirm line-of-sight between your building and the nearest transmission tower. A licensed technician then mounts a radio antenna on your rooftop or exterior wall, aligns it to the tower, and runs a cable to the networking equipment inside your premises. Terago is Canada’s leading fixed wireless provider for businesses and handles installations through their certified team. The process typically takes 20-30 business days once the survey is confirmed.
Does SD-WAN require a technician on-site?
Typically, no — SD-WAN is self-install for most standard setups. However, for larger or more complex systems, an on-site technician may be required to install and configure the edge device at your premises.
Once the device is in place, ongoing management, configuration changes, and updates can be handled remotely through a centralized management portal. Managed SD-WAN services eliminate the need for repeated site visits, which is especially valuable for businesses with multiple locations across Canada.
How long does SD-WAN implementation take?
For a single location with existing internet connections already in place, SD-WAN can be implemented in 1-2 weeks. Multi-location deployments typically take 4-8 weeks, depending on the number of sites, routing complexity, and whether new internet connections also need to be provisioned alongside the SD-WAN rollout.