IPTV Kelowna

Kelowna grew fast between the last two censuses. The City counted 144,576 people in 2021, up 13.5% in five years, and the wider census metropolitan area passed 222,000. On the network map, two companies are each listed in 19 of its 20 zones. Here’s how Kelowna is wired, what live TV streaming needs, and how to test Boom TV on your own connection before you pay.

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One city on Okanagan Lake

Kelowna sits on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley and is the largest municipality in BC’s Interior. It was incorporated in 1905 and is home to the head office of the Regional District of Central Okanagan.

Today’s city was pieced together over time. Rutland, now Kelowna’s largest neighbourhood by far, was separate until it amalgamated with Kelowna in 1973. The Mission was also a separate jurisdiction before it joined. West Kelowna, across the lake, is still its own city. So if you’re moving between the two sides, check your new address rather than assuming the same options.

Two networks across almost every zone

An independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings (the CRTC is Canada’s telecom regulator) splits Kelowna into 20 zones.

• Telus. That coverage map lists Telus fibre-to-the-home in 19 of the 20 zones, and Telus DSL in 18. Telus’s Kelowna page notes that its fibre is not available in all areas, and that it offers DSL to customers outside fibre areas. Check your own address with Telus.
• Rogers, formerly Shaw. Rogers completed its purchase of Shaw on 3 April 2023. If you still see the Shaw name, it’s the same cable network, now owned by Rogers. That coverage map lists Rogers’ cable network in 19 of the 20 zones. Rogers’ Kelowna page describes fibre to the neighbourhood with coaxial cable into the home. The coverage map lists the former Shaw network as a fibre-to-the-home owner in 2 of the 20 zones. So ask Rogers which technology serves your address.

No smaller fibre companies are listed as fibre-to-the-home owners in Kelowna. These are shares of mapped zones, not homes.

Boom TV runs on either network. It’s an app on your TV device, so nothing is installed on the line and nothing changes on your internet account.

Fixed wireless on the map too

That coverage map also lists four fixed-wireless network owners in every one of Kelowna’s zones, including Telus and Rogers, at 25 to 250 Mbps. If your home is served by fixed wireless rather than a wired line, run a speed test in the evening, in the room with the TV, and compare it with the table below.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

For Kelowna, that coverage map lists cable at up to 1.5 Gbps and fibre at up to 8 Gbps. DSL is listed at 5 to 100 Mbps, a wide range, so on DSL, test before relying on 4K. A 4K TV in the family room and an HD stream on a tablet need about 35 Mbps between them.

When a fast plan still buffers

The cause can be inside the house:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, not 2.4 GHz. It’s faster and less crowded.
• Run Ethernet to the main TV if you can. A wired connection takes Wi-Fi out of the picture.
• Move the router up and into the open. Basements, cabinets and the back of the TV all cost signal.
• Add a mesh point if the TV is on another floor from the router.
• Count everyone on the network. Video calls, downloads and backups share the same connection as your TV.

Getting set up in Kelowna

1. Start the free 24-hour trial. Test it in the evening, on the TV you actually use.
2. Install the app on a streaming stick, TV box, smart TV, phone, tablet or computer, and sign in with the details sent by email.
3. Connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet and watch a full evening. If it plays cleanly, choose a plan on the plans page.

No technician, no new wiring and nothing to return.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Telus fibre in Kelowna?

Yes. Boom TV runs over your existing internet connection and needs nothing from Telus.

I live in Rutland or the Mission. Is anything different?

Boom TV works the same anywhere in Kelowna. Only the network at your address can differ, so check it with your provider.

Does it work in West Kelowna?

Yes, if your connection meets the speeds above. West Kelowna is a separate city, so its network options may differ from Kelowna’s.

What do I need for 4K?

About 25 Mbps per 4K stream, plus a device that supports 4K.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. It lasts 24 hours and is free. Start the trial or see the plans.