IPTV Regina

Regina’s cable company isn’t Rogers. It’s a co-operative. Access Communications began in 1974, when residents and non-profit groups in Regina formed a cable co-operative, and it still runs as a not-for-profit with its head office in the city. Regina’s fibre comes from SaskTel, the province’s Crown-owned telephone company, which is also headquartered here. Here’s what that means for streaming TV over the internet, and what Boom TV needs to run smoothly on your connection.

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Regina’s cable network belongs to a co-op

In 1974, citizens and non-profit organizations in Regina banded together to form a cable co-operative. Its cable network began service on 15 February 1978 and took the name Access Communications in 2000. Today Access describes itself as a not-for-profit, community-owned service co-operative that reinvests all its profits in its services.

Access delivers home internet over a hybrid fibre-coaxial network. An independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings shows Access as the only cable network owner in Regina, mapped in most of the city’s zones.

SaskTel: the fibre network, run from Regina

SaskTel is owned by the provincial government and has its headquarters on Saskatchewan Drive in Regina. In 2011 it announced a fibre-to-the-home program for nine major centres in Saskatchewan, saying it would begin connecting homes in Regina and Saskatoon that year. The same CRTC-based data now shows SaskTel fibre mapped in most of Regina’s zones, and SaskTel is the only fibre-to-the-home owner listed for the city.

So both of Regina’s main wired networks are owned locally: one by a Regina-based co-op and one by the province. The data counts network owners only, so a reseller may sell you service over one of these lines under its own name.

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 SaskTel or Access account.

Why Regina’s map doesn’t look like Saskatoon’s

If you’re moving from Saskatoon, don’t assume you’ll be on the same kind of cable company. In Saskatoon, the same data lists Rogers (which took over Shaw in 2023) as the main cable owner. In Regina, Rogers appears only as a mobile and fixed-wireless network, not as a cable owner.

For streaming, the owner of the line matters less than the speed you actually get in the room with the TV. A current cable or fibre plan from either network is the starting point. Your Wi-Fi decides the rest.

White City, Emerald Park and the RM of Sherwood

Regina is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Sherwood. Nearby are communities like White City, Emerald Park, Pilot Butte, Balgonie and Lumsden, which work as quasi-suburbs of the capital. Access grew partly by acquiring cable systems in places like White City and Regina Beach.

Boom TV works the same in all of them. What changes is which internet technology reaches your address. If you’re on an acreage in the RM, run a speed test in the evening, in the room with the TV, and compare the result with the table below. The free trial lets you check on your own line before you pay.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

When a fast connection still stutters, the cause is usually inside the house:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, not 2.4 GHz. It’s faster and less crowded, especially in apartments and attached homes.
• Plug the main TV in with Ethernet if you can. It’s the most reliable fix there is.
• Move the router up and out. Basements, cabinets and the back of the TV all cost signal.
• Restart the streaming device now and then. Small sticks with limited memory run better after a fresh start.

Getting set up in Regina

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 the TV to 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet and watch for a full evening. Happy with it? Choose a plan on the plans page.

No installer, no new wiring, and nothing to return.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Access Communications internet?

Yes. Access owns the cable network in Regina, and Boom TV runs over it the same way it runs over SaskTel fibre. Nothing on your Access account changes.

Does it work on SaskTel fibre?

Yes. Boom TV runs over your existing internet connection and doesn’t need anything from SaskTel.

Can I get Rogers or Shaw cable in Regina?

The CRTC-based data doesn’t list Rogers or Shaw as a cable network owner in Regina. Cable here is Access Communications, and fibre is SaskTel.

Will it work in White City or Emerald Park?

Yes, wherever you have a reliable home connection. Aim for about 10 Mbps per HD stream or 25 Mbps per 4K stream.

Do I need new equipment?

Usually not. Boom TV is an app for streaming sticks, TV boxes, smart TVs, phones, tablets and computers.

Is there a free trial?

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