As the Wind blows-Abandoning Wind as a carrier

As noted in earlier posts, finding a carrier in Canada is difficult given the plans change constantly. In reaction the explosion of smartphone use, carriers have moved away from a UBB like model for calls and texts to a similar model around data use. Calls and texts are now flat rate plans with unlimited use, and data rates are predatory and capped both in use and expense.

I have been using Wind in Alberta for year and it has been at best a mixed experience. Coverage and network speed (3G) are abysmal and embarrassing. Value and price are exceptional with unlimited data, calls and texts. I was betting on Wind being purchased by a bigger player (Videotron) or a new entrant that would immediately expand infrastructure investment and expansion. 

I bet wrong.

Now I am searching for the least exploitative LTE plan I can Bring My Own Device and not pay and arm and a leg.

Unlimited pros and the one con:Surviving 3rd Party ISP support

The last year has seen unprecedented public visibility regarding 3rd party ISP's such as Teksavvy due to the CRTC's UBB hearings. While public outcry was initially misdirected as a cry against retail UBB, something that had been in place for a year, it shone a spotlight on wholesale UBB and the place of 3rd party ISP's.

UBB has been placed on the CRTC's back-burner as the 4 major ISP's (Bell, Rogers, Telus,Shaw) re-allign their retail offerings to mask or incentivise consumers to place less weight on UBB concerns. Teksavvy, my current ISP, continues to offer unlimited or near unlimited data plans for less than the unbundled services offered by Telus or Shaw. As I learned over the last week, this gain comes at a cost and is likely the hurdle that limits 3rd party ISP's customer base to less than 10% of the market.

Usage-Based Billing (updated rates)

Shaw has announced an updated pricing and cap schedule. While their page explaining the changes is overly convoluted, confusing and missing vital data, they have upped the ante. However, after "consulting" with their customers they have decided to continue Usage-Based Billing over and above montly recurring charges.

Usage Based Billing (UBB) for the layman

UBB provides ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) the ability to set data plan for their customers and then charge either overage fees or add “insurance” plans when their customer’s exceed their initial plans. Until late 2010, UBB was a non-issue, as most ISP’s including the big four (Bell, Rogers, Shaw & Telus) offered high-usage customers plans that included unlimited data.