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{{Infobox company
| name = TekSavvy Solutions Inc.
| logo = TekSavvy Logo 2011.png
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| key_people = Marc Gaudrault ([[chief executive officer|CEO]])
| industry = [[Telecommunication]]s
| products = [[Wireless broadband]],<br/>[[Digital subscriber line|DSL]],<br/>[[Cable Internet access|Cable Internet]],<br/>[[Landline]],<br/>[[Voice over IP|VoIP]]
| revenue =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| foundation = {{Start date|1998|01}}
| location = [[Chatham-Kent|Chatham]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| homepage = {{official url}}
| module = {{infobox network service provider|child=yes}}
}}
[[File:RedboxWirelessTekSavvyReseller.jpg|thumb|TekSavvy reseller]]
'''TekSavvy Solutions Inc.''' (TSI) is a Canadian residential, business, and wholesale [[telecommunications]] company based in [[Chatham-Kent|Chatham]], [[Ontario]]. In most of the country, it is a wholesale-network-access-based service provider and voice [[reseller]], connecting its service to existing [[Last mile (telecommunications)|last mile]] networks from telecom carriers [[Bell Canada]] (including [[Bell Aliant]]) and [[Telus|Telus Communications]], and cable carriers [[Rogers Communications]], [[Cogeco|Cogeco Cable]], [[Shaw Communications|Shaw]] and [[Vidéotron]]. However, in parts of rural southwestern Ontario, the service is provided over TekSavvy's own fixed wireless network (branded as "Sky Fi"). Recently they have also rolled out their own fibre optic network in parts of southwestern Ontario.
== History ==
TekSavvy Solutions Inc. was founded in January 1998.<ref name="about">{{cite web |title=TekSavvy: About|url=http://teksavvy.com/en/about.asp|access-date=October 27, 2011 }}</ref> The company ranked 27th in 2008, 33rd in 2009, 44th in 2010, and 33rd 2011 on the list of fastest-growing companies in Canada on [[Canadian Business Magazine]]'s Profit 100 list.<ref name="Profit">{{cite web|url = http://list.profitguide.com/rankings/profit100/2010/Default.aspx?sp2=1&d1=a&sc1=0|title = Profit 200|access-date = 2 December 2011|last = Rogers Communications|author-link = Rogers Communications|year = 2011}}</ref> By 2011, it had been rated as the number one ISP in Canada by the users of DSLreports.com<ref name="DSLreports">{{cite web|url = http://www.dslreports.com/gbu/|title = Charts - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - Issue #613|access-date = 2 December 2011|last = DSL reports|year = 2011}}</ref> for five years. In 2012, it was 12th on the [[Branham 300]] Top 20 Movers & Shakers list.<ref name="Top 20 Movers & Shakers">{{cite web|title=Branham 300 Top 20 Movers & Shakers|url=http://www.branham300.com/index.php?year=2012&listing=14|publisher=Branham Group Inc.|access-date=June 22, 2012}}</ref>
== Services ==
While TekSavvy operates primarily by connecting its service to network access ("[[Last mile (telecommunications)|last mile]]" infrastructure) from [[Bell Canada|Bell]], [[Rogers Communications|Rogers]], [[Cogeco]], [[Shaw Communications|Shaw]], [[Telus]] and [[Vidéotron]], the service differs in terms of pricing and features according to the network access platform to which it is connected.
Broadband Business Internet, Fiber Dedicated Access, VOIP Telephony and Web hosting services are available in most service areas.<ref name="TekSavvyProv">{{cite web|url = http://teksavvy.com/en/province.asp|title = Please select your region|access-date = 2 December 2011|last = TekSavvy|year = 2011}}</ref>
===Wireless broadband===
TekSavvy offers [[Fixed wireless|fixed]] [[wireless broadband]] (branded as "Sky Fi") in rural areas of [[Chatham-Kent]] and the counties of [[Lambton County|Lambton]] and [[Essex County, Ontario|Essex]] in Ontario using unlicensed spectrum.<ref>{{cite web|title=SkyFi|url=https://help.teksavvy.com/hc/en-us/articles/200314840-SkyFi|website=TekSavvy Help Centre|access-date=19 August 2015}}</ref>
===Digital subscriber line (DSL)===
{{See also|Bell Internet#Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)|Telus Internet}}
TekSavvy offers [[digital subscriber line]] (DSL) service using Bell lines in [[Ontario]] and [[Quebec]], Telus lines in [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]], and [[Bell Aliant]] lines in [[New Brunswick]], [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]], [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Prince Edward Island]].
Before the summer of 2011, TekSavvy could only access Bell's "Performance" speed tier, with maximum speeds of 5&nbsp;Mbit/s. Starting in July 2011, several months after the Canadian government allowed third-party ISPs to access higher speed tiers, TekSavvy started offering the same DSL speed tiers found at Bell. High-end plans with 10+ Mbit/s upload speeds require an approved [[VDSL2]] modem, while all lower DSL tiers can be used with any compatible [[ADSL2+]] modem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://teksavvy.com/en/res-internet.asp#usage |title=Residential Internet |publisher=TekSavvy |access-date=2012-03-31}}</ref> In 2014 TekSavvy replaced the rental with rent-to-own and one-time purchase options of a SmartRG 505N modem.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://help.teksavvy.com/hc/en-us/sections/200043470-DSL | title = DSL TekSavvy Online Help Centre | access-date = 2014-08-27 }}</ref>
On March 20, 2013, TekSavvy added a 50&nbsp;Mbit/s tier, the fastest [[FTTN]] tier that Bell started offering a month earlier. TekSavvy offers the same FTTN DSL speeds available from Bell. The only exceptions are that for the slowest plans, 6&nbsp;Mbit/s regular DSL and 7&nbsp;Mbit/s FTTN DSL is sold by TekSavvy instead of Bell's 5&nbsp;Mbit/s plans. All DSL plans now offer a choice between 150&nbsp;GB, 400&nbsp;GB or unlimited Internet access with overage charges of $0.25 per GB (with a cap of $25).
===Cable Internet===
TekSavvy's [[cable Internet]] offerings rely on Rogers, Shaw, Videotron or Cogeco infrastructure to connect customers to TekSavvy Internet. In areas served by Rogers, TekSavvy cable Internet is offered with either 15, 30 or 100&nbsp;Mbit/s download speeds with the choice of 150&nbsp;GB, 400&nbsp;GB or unlimited downloads. In areas served by Cogeco, most predominantly in the Niagara region, there are 5 packages available at speeds of 6, 10, 20, 30 or 60&nbsp;Mbit/s with a standard bandwidth cap of 150&nbsp;GB/month, excluding the 6&nbsp;Mbit/s service, and a 300&nbsp;GB or unlimited option for a fee. The same 300&nbsp;GB and unlimited options are available in [[Chatham-Kent]], [[Ontario]] and major cities in  the British Columbia Lower Mainland, with lower speeds due to the Cogeco and Shaw infrastructure used in those regions. In [[Quebec]], [[Vidéotron]] provides the cable infrastructure.
In some areas, they are offering Cable at speeds of 120, 200, and 940&nbsp;Mbit/s as of 2018.
=== Telephone ===
TekSavvy also provides a [[long-distance calling]] service using [[Voice over IP|VoIP]]. The home phone service (branded as "TekTalk") is available in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
===Television===
'''TekSavvy TV''' is a residential [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top television]] service available to select TekSavvy Internet customers. The service, offered by affiliate company Hastings Cable Vision, launched on February 1, 2019 in Ottawa, Ontario. Later expansions brought the service to more regions in Ottawa and Quebec.<ref>{{cite web |title=TekSavvy Announces Partnership with Hastings CableVision |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/teksavvy-announces-partnership-with-hastings-cablevision-515631791.html |website=www.newswire.ca |access-date=4 March 2019 |language=en |date=16 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chatham-based company expanding TekSavvy TV into Ottawa |url=https://www.chathamdailynews.ca/news/local-news/chatham-based-company-expanding-teksavvy-tv-into-ottawa |access-date=4 March 2019 |publisher=Chatham Daily News |date=26 February 2019 |location=Chatham, ON}}</ref>
The service consists of a low cost digital basic package, with over 45 channels from over 20 networks, including must-carry channels and several provincial channels. Additional channels may be purchased with pick packs, consisting of 10 to 40 channels from a catalogue of 93 channels, or with theme packs, such as movies and sports. TekSavvy also offers video-on-demand content and [[TV Everywhere]] service from selected TV channels.
== Opposition to usage-based billing==
TekSavvy has been very public about its stance against [[Bandwidth cap|usage-based billing]] (UBB). Former CEO Rocky Gaudrault argued, in 2011, that the larger bandwidth allotments of wholesale operators is one of those operators' more distinguishable factors, stating, "The answer to future growth is not to stifle it by imposing punitive pricing but to encourage it, accommodate it, and make more money on greater volume consumed at lower prices with more efficient infrastructure."<ref name="rocky">{{Cite news |first=Rocky |last=Gaudrault |date=February 7, 2011 |title=Internet usage debate, Part 1: The real myths|publisher=Financial Post|url=http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/02/07/internet-usage-debate-the-real-myths/|access-date=October 27, 2011 }}</ref> TekSavvy devotes most of its news page to addressing its concerns about UBB.<ref>[http://www.teksavvynews.com TekSavvy News]</ref>
==Policy on disclosure of subscriber personal information==
TekSavvy has a policy to "''not provide personal information to a 3rd party when copyright infringement is alleged unless ordered to do so by a court... [and] do its best to ensure that its customers receive notice when disclosure of their personal information is sought in such cases''."<ref>TekSavvy: [http://www.teksavvy.com/en/why-teksavvy/in-the-news/teksavvy-customer-notices/copyright-law-in-canada/copyright-faqs Copyright FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808202146/http://www.teksavvy.com/en/why-teksavvy/in-the-news/teksavvy-customer-notices/copyright-law-in-canada/copyright-faqs |date=2013-08-08 }}. Retrieved July 2, 2013.</ref>
===''Voltage Pictures v. Does''===
In November 2012, [[Voltage Pictures]], an American film production company with a history of filing lawsuits against people alleged to have illegally shared movies online, sought disclosure of personal information belonging to approximately 2000 TekSavvy subscribers based on data collected by the Canadian anti-piracy company Canipre between September 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012.<ref>Voltage Pictures LLC [http://www.teksavvy.com/Media/Default/Customer%20Notices/T-2058-12%20-%20Statement%20of%20Claim.pdf Statement of Claim]. Retrieved July 2, 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/voltage_pictures_is_back_suing.html|title = Voltage Pictures is back, suing Oregonians who shared movies online|date = 12 August 2014}}</ref>
On November 14, 2012 Voltage filed a [[Statement of claim|Statement of Claim]] in [[Federal Court (Canada)|Federal Court]], initiating action against TekSavvy (court file T-2058-12, ''Voltage Pictures LLC v. John Doe and Jane Doe'')<ref>[http://cas-ncr-nter03.cas-satj.gc.ca/IndexingQueries/infp_RE_info_e.php?court_no=T-2058-12 Court docket]. Retrieved July 02, 2013</ref> seeking a court order for the release of subscribers' personal information, including telephone numbers and email addresses,<ref name = "TSI Court Ruling Press Release">{{cite web|title=Ruling in Filesharing Suit Imposes new Safeguards for Canadians|url=http://www.teksavvy.com/en/why-teksavvy/in-the-news/teksavvy-press-releases/2014-press-releases/ruling-in-filesharing-suit-imposes-new-safeguards-for-canadians|work=TekSavvy in the News|publisher=TekSavvy Solutions Inc|access-date=21 February 2014|date=21 February 2014}}</ref> associated with about 2000 IP addresses allegedly involved in copyright infringement.
On February 21, 2014 the Federal Court released its decision compelling TekSavvy to identify the consumers identified by Voltage as alleged downloaders while also implementing several constraints on Voltage. The court ruled that the [[demand letter]]s sent by Voltage to the specified consumers be approved by a judge to ensure "there is no inappropriate language" and that "any correspondence... shall clearly state in bold type that no court has yet made a determination that such subscriber has infringed or is liable in any way for payment of damages", and that Voltage must pay TekSavvy's legal costs and any costs associated with identifying the consumers.<ref name= "CBC Story Voltage">{{cite news|agency=The Canadian Press|title=TekSavvy ordered to ID alleged movie downloaders|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/teksavvy-ordered-to-id-alleged-movie-downloaders-1.2546477|access-date=21 February 2014|newspaper=CBC News|date=21 February 2014}}</ref> The Federal Court ruling further limited the information Voltage could request from TekSavvy, only permitting them to access the names and mailing addresses of the subscribers in question.
TekSavvy stated in a February 21, 2014 press release that they were satisfied with the framework implemented by the Federal Court for the case, claiming that it will protect consumers by discouraging future [[copyright troll]]ing, but will only provide the information when Voltage meets all conditions of the courts orders and the affected customers have been notified.<ref name= "TSI Court Ruling Press Release" /> Yet, some scholars have contended that the framework implemented by the Federal Court in this case fails to adequately protect the affected customers' online privacy rights in accordance with the principles articulated by the [[Supreme Court of Canada]] in ''[[R v Spencer|R v. Spencer]]''.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Okidegbe|first1=Ngozi|title=Rethinking online privacy in Canada: Commentary on Voltage Pictures v. John and Jane Doe|journal=Canadian Journal of Law and Technology|date=2014|volume=12|issue=2|pages=244–253|url=https://ojs.library.dal.ca/CJLT/article/view/6612}}</ref>
== See also ==
*[[Network neutrality|Net neutrality]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{Official website}}
{{CATV Canada}}
{{Canadian ISP}}
{{Canadian VOIP}}
[[Category:Internet service providers of Canada]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1998]]
[[Category:Companies based in Ontario]]
[[Category:Chatham-Kent]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of Canada]]
[[Category:IPTV companies of Canada]]