IPTV Markham

Markham has been a city only since 2012, but with 338,503 people in the 2021 census it is one of the largest municipalities in York Region. For streaming TV, the useful local fact is how many different companies have laid fibre here. Which of them reaches your street depends on which part of Markham you live in. Here is how the city’s connections break down, what live TV actually needs, and how to test Boom TV on your own line before you pay anything.

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A town until 2012, inside York Region

Markham was incorporated as a town in 1971 and became the City of Markham on 1 July 2012, after a unanimous council vote. It is one of nine local municipalities in the Regional Municipality of York, which took effect at the start of 1971.

The city brings together several distinct communities: Berczy Village, Cornell, Markham Village, Milliken, Thornhill and Unionville. Thornhill is split down the middle, with part in Markham and part in Vaughan, so two Thornhill neighbours can live in different cities.

Nine fibre networks, two big ones

An independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings (the CRTC is Canada’s telecom regulator) splits Markham into 18 zones:

• Bell fibre-to-the-home is mapped in every zone, alongside Bell’s older DSL.
• Rogers cable is mapped in about 94% of zones, and Rogers fibre in about 83%.
• Seven smaller fibre owners also appear: FibreStream, CIK, Beanfield, telMAX, Dotto, Vianet and Rally. Each covers only part of the city, from about a quarter of zones down to a single zone.

That’s nine fibre network owners in one city. Among them, telMAX is a GTA-based fibre company that says it currently serves Markham. Cogeco, the cable company in Oakville and Burlington, doesn’t appear on Markham’s map at all.

The shares above are of mapped zones, not of homes. The only way to know what reaches your door is to check your own address.

Boom TV runs over any of these networks. It’s an app, so nothing is installed on the line and nothing changes on your internet account.

The Region’s own fibre

York Region owns a company called YorkNet, which builds and operates a dark fibre network across the Region. Internet providers can use that fibre, and YorkNet works with a partner provider to connect eligible homes. If you’ve seen YorkNet mentioned locally, that is what it is. Either way, your home service still comes through an internet provider.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

For Markham, that coverage map lists cable at up to 1.5 Gbps and fibre at up to 8 Gbps, well beyond what a few streams need. Bell DSL is listed at 5 to 100 Mbps, so if you’re still on DSL, test before counting on 4K.

Choosing between fibre providers? For live TV, a steady connection matters more than a big headline number. Any fibre line listed for Markham has far more capacity than a few streams need, so choose based on what actually reaches your address and how well it holds up in the evening. Then add up what you watch at once: two HD screens and one 4K screen need about 45 Mbps together.

If a fast connection still buffers, the cause is usually between the router and the TV. Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, run Ethernet to the main TV if you can, and keep the router out of basements and cabinets.

North of Major Mackenzie

Much of Markham’s farmland has been built over, but some still remains north of Major Mackenzie Drive. If you live out there, don’t assume your connection matches a friend’s in Unionville. Run a speed test in the evening, in the room with the TV, and compare it with the table above. Clearing about 10 Mbps for each screen you plan to use means HD is realistic. The free trial lets you check on your own line.

Getting set up in Markham

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

No technician visit, no new wiring and nothing to return.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Rogers or Bell in Markham?

Yes. Boom TV runs over Rogers cable or fibre, Bell fibre or DSL, and the smaller fibre networks. Nothing on your internet account changes.

I’m with a smaller fibre provider. Is that a problem?

No. Any steady home connection works. Fibre from a smaller company is just as good a base for streaming as fibre from a big one.

Is Cogeco available in Markham?

Cogeco doesn’t appear on the network-owner map for Markham. Cable here is mainly Rogers.

I live in the Vaughan part of Thornhill. Is it the same service?

Yes. Boom TV works the same on either side of the city line. Only your internet options may differ.

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.