When it comes to Internet access, TELUS has always prided itself on offering customers some of the fastest home Internet plans available in Canada, with the largest monthly data allowance per plan – in some cases two or three times bigger than plans offered by our competitors.
Thanks to these large monthly data allowances, the vast majority of our Internet customers (more than four out of five customers) stay within their monthly data allowance. However, a small number of customers regularly exceed their monthly data allowance, and while TELUS’s Internet plans have always had thresholds, historical consumer data usage patterns have not required us to apply any fees for those customers who exceed their allowance.
As high speed networks have evolved, however, the consumption of video over the Internet has dramatically increased. Further, much of this consumption is being driven by a minority of our customers. Less than 5% of our Internet customers are consuming 25% of the data on our network in any given month. This has required us to reconsider our approach to ensure we continue offering a smooth and seamless Internet experience for all customers.
Accordingly, TELUS is applying clear and simple usage-based Internet charges for customers who go over the data allowance in their home Internet data plans.
These usage charges have been designed to ensure the amount a customer pays for Internet service reflects their actual data consumption. You pay for what you use. Most TELUS customers are already on an Internet plan that meets their data usage needs, and will not incur an additional charge.