IPTV Laval

Laval is an island city. It covers all of Île Jésus, with the Rivière des Prairies between it and Montreal and the Rivière des Mille Îles to the north. Since 1965 the whole island has been one municipality, and its wired internet is just as simple: Vidéotron’s cable network and Bell’s fibre and DSL network are mapped across all of it. Here is what that means for streaming live TV, and how to check your own connection before you pay.

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Laval’s internet runs on Vidéotron and Bell

If you’ve moved from Ontario, the first surprise is the cable company. In the network-owner data, neither Rogers nor Cogeco owns a cable network in Laval. Network-owner data filed with the CRTC, compiled by a third party into a map of 19 zones across the island, shows:

• Vidéotron as the only owner of a cable (coaxial) network, mapped in every zone.
• Bell with fibre-to-the-home and DSL, both mapped in every zone.
• Smaller fibre in about one zone in ten, from Vidéotron’s own fibre and from a smaller operator, TelKel.

Rogers shows up in the same data only for fixed wireless and mobile service. Resellers are left out of the map, so the brand on your bill may be selling service over Vidéotron’s or Bell’s lines.

For streaming, either main network works. The data lists cable speeds up to 1.5 Gbps and fibre higher than that, while live TV needs a small fraction of a single gigabit. Boom TV is an app on your TV device, so nothing is installed on the line and nothing changes on your Vidéotron or Bell account.

Fourteen towns, one island, one city

Laval looks like one big suburb on the map, but it began as fourteen separate municipalities. In 1965 the province merged them into a single city: Chomedey, Duvernay, Laval-des-Rapides, Laval-Ouest, Pont-Viau, Sainte-Rose, Auteuil, Fabreville, Îles-Laval, Laval-sur-le-Lac, Sainte-Dorothée, Saint-François, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and Vimont.

Laval is now the third-largest city in Quebec, after Montreal and Quebec City. The 2021 census counted 438,366 residents, up from 422,993 in 2016. Laval is also one of Quebec’s 17 administrative regions in its own right, and the smallest of them by area.

What does that history mean for your internet? Less than people expect. Because one cable network and one fibre network are mapped across the whole island, Chomedey and Sainte-Rose choose from the same main networks. The real differences are at your address, so check what technology serves your building.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

The network data lists cable at up to 1.5 Gbps and fibre at up to 8 Gbps, far above these figures. DSL is the one to test. Bell’s DSL is listed at anywhere from 5 to 100 Mbps depending on the line, so run a speed test in the evening before you count on it for 4K or for two TVs at once.

When it buffers, look inside the house first

Streaming trouble on a fast connection often starts between the router and the TV:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, not 2.4 GHz. In apartment buildings and rows of attached homes, the 2.4 GHz band is crowded with neighbours’ networks.
• Run an Ethernet cable to the main TV if you can. A wired connection takes Wi-Fi out of the picture.
• Get the router out of the basement or cabinet. Every floor and wall between it and the TV costs signal.
• Count everything else on the network. Video calls, game downloads and backups share the same connection as your TV.

Moving between Laval and Montreal

If you’re moving across the Rivière des Prairies, the main networks don’t change. The same network-owner data shows the city of Montréal with the same pattern: Vidéotron as the only cable owner, with Bell fibre and DSL. Boom TV works the same on either side of the river.

Getting set up in Laval

1. Start the free 24-hour trial. Test 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 for a full evening. If it plays cleanly, choose a plan on the plans page.

There’s no technician visit, nothing installed on the line, and no change to your internet account.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Vidéotron in Laval?

Yes. Vidéotron owns Laval’s cable network, and Boom TV runs over it the same way it runs over Bell fibre or DSL. Nothing on your Vidéotron account changes.

Can I get Rogers cable in Laval?

No. In the network-owner data, Vidéotron is the only cable owner in Laval. Rogers appears only for fixed wireless and mobile service.

I live in Chomedey (or Sainte-Rose, or Vimont). Is anything different?

No. Those were separate towns before 1965, but today they are all part of Laval and served by the same main networks. What matters is the technology wired to your building.

What speed do I need for 4K?

About 25 Mbps per 4K stream and about 10 Mbps per HD stream. Add them together for each screen in use at the same time.

Can I try it before paying?

Yes. The trial is free and lasts 24 hours. Start the trial or compare the plans.