Here is an overview of PCMag’s 2023 Best Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Prince Edward Island. While choice is limited in PEI, PCMag has new ranking methodology, allowing a better overall view of the ISPs landscape. PCMag looked at speed, customer satisfaction, coverage, and price. That allows them to form a more comprehensive view of Canadian ISPs and how they work in the real world for real customers. The more in-depth methodology has also allowed them to break the figures down by province.
- Bell Canada
- Eastlink
- Bell DSL Internet
While competition is slim on Prince Edward Island, Bell Canada and Eastlink have fought it out to be the top two providers. They pretty much tie on the Speed Index and Eastlink has a slightly better customer satisfaction rating, but Bell Canada wins with its better pricing and more coverage.
If we look at the data at a more granular level, we can see some variation in the individual categories. Eastlink and Bell Canada provide the fastest service. They reached median speeds of 144.3 and 133.5, respectively, during the PCMag online user speed testing. Bell DSL and Xplore were much slower, at 19.6 and 14.1, but they still seem to reach faster speeds on Prince Edward Island than they do elsewhere in the country. In Ontario, for example, Xplore has a median speed of 12.6, nearly two points slower than on Prince Edward Island.
Coverage is good for all the providers. The satellite ISP Xplore covers the most, of course, reaching 100% of the island, but Bell Canada and Bell DSL aren’t far behind, both covering 95% of the island. Eastlink covers 70% of the island, which is still very good. Prices for internet are either cheap or expensive, according to these results. Bell Canada charges an average of $0.03 per Mbps, and Eastlink charges $0.09. Then the rates go way up. Xplore charges $1.20, and Bell DSL charges $2.00. Still, when we look at the results of the PCMag customer satisfaction survey, we see that they all have nearly the same rating. Eastlink just edges it, with a rating of 7.3 out of 10, but Bell Canada and Bell DSL both enjoy a customer rating of 7.2.
Larger national ISPs undoubtedly maintain a significant edge due to their mix of extensive coverage, brand recognition, and competitive pricing. However, upon closer examination of specific categories, particularly in terms of speed and customer satisfaction, smaller companies often showcase their strengths more prominently. The ultimate ‘best’ ISP is the one that most precisely aligns with a customer’s distinct requirements, whether they prioritize personalized service, high-speed connectivity, or outstanding value. With these comprehensive rankings, consumers can now more seamlessly discover the ideal ISP that caters to their individual needs.