Query regarding Mobile Internet Unlimited International calls and Cable TV

[Silvi6]

Hi All,

I am moving to Toronto. I would need your advice in getting below things:

1) Mobile SIM : preference is to get prepaid sim initially with 2-3 GB of internet. I wont be going with Contract, will bring my own phone.
any better option with postpaid ?
2) Home Internet : Which is the best Broadband service provider of course with lowest price.
3) Home Cable TV : Can we use Internet to Stream Cable network(like Indian channels)? Is there service for that?
4) Which Mobile company provides lowest international call rates ? My calling would be maximum to India. No US or other country.
If mobile companies are expensive for international calls, Shall I use calling cards or home phone with internet will be cheaper ? Or any other suggestion like any particular app ?

Please respond. I will really appreciate.

Thanks
Silvi

 

[alok4best]

Hi All,

I am moving to Toronto. I would need your advice in getting below things:

1) Mobile SIM : preference is to get prepaid sim initially with 2-3 GB of internet. I wont be going with Contract, will bring my own phone.
any better option with postpaid ?
2) Home Internet : Which is the best Broadband service provider of course with lowest price.
3) Home Cable TV : Can we use Internet to Stream Cable network(like Indian channels)? Is there service for that?
4) Which Mobile company provides lowest international call rates ? My calling would be maximum to India. No US or other country.
If mobile companies are expensive for international calls, Shall I use calling cards or home phone with internet will be cheaper ? Or any other suggestion like any particular app ?

Please respond. I will really appreciate.

Thanks
Silvi

Hi Silvi. Me again.
1. Postpaid and Prepaid rates are more of less the same. For 2-3GB of data a month, expect to shell out around 70-80 Dollars a month.
2. Best broadband do not come with lowest prices. . You need to decide exactly what you want. Speeds and data limit. Depending on what you want, expect to pay in the range of 40-80 dollars a month. I have a Rogers connection. 67 dollars a month for 100Mbps, Unlimited data.
3. My suggestion, do not get a cable subscription. It's better to use an inexpensive indoor antenna which can get you 10-15 free over the air channels. Regarding Indian TV, there are really no good and legal options. You get android tv boxes which basically stream Indian channels from China based servers for around 300 odd dollars a year, but technically that's illegal. Rogers, Bell, etc, have some Asian packages, but the channel selection is really bad for the price. Long story short, unless you are okay using those China based streaming services, there are really no ways to watch Indian tv.
4. Not a good idea using mobile phones for calls to India. Better use a calling card or VOIP, like Vonage. For 30 odd dollars, Vonage will give you unlimited calls to India and many other countries.
I personally prefer prepaid credit as I don't need an unlimited voice plan. So I use a combination of Localphone and Google hangout. Localphone is 0.9 Canadian Cents a minute, Hangout is 1US cent a minute. I normally top up with 10 Dollars and it easily lasts 2 months or more for me. But then, I am really not a heavy phone user.

 

[badpusacat]

I agree with the answers of alok4best!

Let me share my experience (landed July 2015):

1. I want the best internet so my friend recommended Rogers. I went with Rogers and I don't have any regrets.

2. I have my own phone too so I took a monthly plan which doesn't have a contract (meaning: I can cancel my subscription anytime I want.). I guess the price varies depending if there is an offer but I'm paying $73 (with taxes) for 2GB reliable internet. It is so helpful when I am new here because I need to check maps and transit schedules online. I know someone who is using Wind and there are some places that they don't have a signal or it has a signal but the call doesn't got thru.

3. Our internet in the house where I rent a room is Telus and it works really well with FaceTime and FB Messenger calls - clear video and voice quality. I'm talking to different people all over the world. So I don't need to make a call, I do it by internet.

I hope it helps.