Independent ISPs Have Lost Half Their Market Share Since 2020

Independent ISPs Have Lost Half Their Market Share Since 2020. Here's Why That Matters in Atlantic Canada.

The latest Canadian Telecommunications Market Report shows something important.

Since 2020, independent wholesale-based internet service providers have lost half their market share, dropping from 8.4% to 4.2%.

At the same time, large telecom companies have expanded fibre infrastructure and increased revenue share.

For Atlantic Canadians, this shift matters.

The Shrinking Share of Independent Providers

Independent ISPs purchase wholesale access to larger telecom networks and compete on service, pricing, and innovation. But over the last several years, wholesale rates have remained high, consolidation has accelerated, and fibre deployment has been increasingly concentrated among the largest carriers.

When competition shrinks, pricing power concentrates. And that is rarely good for long-term affordability.

Fibre Is Expanding. But Ownership Matters.

Fibre coverage is growing rapidly across Canada. Over 72% of households now have access to fibre, and gigabit adoption has climbed significantly since 2020.

Faster internet is good. But who owns that fibre matters just as much as how fast it is. If expansion is controlled only by large incumbents, long-term competitive pressure weakens.

Purple Cow Is Building Its Own Fibre Network

While many independent providers across Canada are shrinking or being absorbed, Purple Cow is doing something different. We are building our own network.

Purple Fibre is being deployed across Nova Scotia using XGS-PON technology. That allows us to deliver:

• 10 Gig symmetrical speeds today
• A clear upgrade path to 50 Gig speeds in the future

Symmetrical speeds mean upload matches download. That matters for remote work, cloud computing, content creation, AI-driven tools, and modern business operations.

XGS-PON gives us the ability to scale dramatically without rebuilding the network from scratch. We are not just reselling access. We are laying long-term infrastructure.

Why Infrastructure Ownership Matters for Pricing

When an independent provider owns its own fibre network, it changes the economics.

• We control our cost structure
• We reduce dependence on wholesale pricing
• We reinvest into expansion
• We compete more aggressively

Internet pricing has declined in recent years even during inflation. That doesn't happen without competitive pressure. Infrastructure ownership strengthens that pressure.

Breaking the Consolidation Pattern in Atlantic Canada

Across Canada, many smaller ISPs have been acquired by the largest telecom companies. That's one way incumbents stay large, through consolidation.

Purple Cow is moving in the opposite direction. Our market share in the Atlantic provinces continues to grow. Instead of being absorbed, we are expanding. Instead of retreating, we are investing.

The Bigger Picture

This isn't about asking anyone to switch providers. It's about recognizing what's happening in the industry.

Independent wholesale providers have lost half their market share since 2020. Fibre expansion is accelerating. Market concentration remains high.

The long-term affordability of internet in Atlantic Canada depends on maintaining real competition.

Purple Cow is committed to doing our part:

• Building fibre
• Increasing speeds
• Expanding access
• Driving prices down over time

Competition matters. Infrastructure matters. And we are building both.