IPTV Saguenay

In Saguenay, two different cable companies share the map. On the network-owner data, Vidéotron’s cable is mapped in about half of the city’s zones and Cogeco’s in a little over a fifth, while Bell runs fibre and DSL. And cable isn’t mapped in every zone. Here is who owns the lines in Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie, what Boom TV needs to play well, and how to test it on your own connection before you pay.

Start your free 24-hour trial

Three boroughs, one city since 2002

Saguenay was formed on 18 February 2002, when the cities of Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie and Laterrière were merged with the municipalities of Lac-Kénogami and Shipshaw and part of the township of Tremblay. The city is divided into three boroughs: Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie.

It sits on the Saguenay River, about 200 km north of Quebec City, in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. The 2021 census counted 144,723 residents.

Who owns the wires in Saguenay

An independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings (the CRTC is Canada’s telecom regulator) splits Saguenay into 75 zones. It shows:

• Cable (coaxial) mapped in about two-thirds of the zones. Vidéotron owns it in about half of them, and Cogeco in a little over a fifth.
• Fibre-to-the-home mapped in about six zones in ten. Bell has the largest share, at a little over a third of zones, followed by Vidéotron (a little over a quarter) and Cogeco (about one in eight).
• DSL from Bell mapped in about three-quarters of the zones.

These are shares of mapped zones, not homes. They also leave out resellers, so the name on your bill may not be the company that owns the wire.

Cogeco’s Quebec cable business grew in December 2020, when it completed the purchase of a cable company founded in Saguenay, at the time described as Quebec’s third-largest. Check which cable network serves your own address.

Beyond the cable map: fixed wireless and satellite

Cable is mapped in only about two-thirds of Saguenay’s zones, so other technologies are on the map too:

• Fixed wireless networks are mapped in almost all of the city’s zones, with Bell and Rogers among the owners. That coverage map lists fixed wireless at 25 to 250 Mbps.
• Satellite is mapped in every zone, listed at 25 to 220 Mbps.

Rogers shows up in Saguenay’s data only for fixed wireless and mobile service, not cable.

If your home is on fixed wireless, satellite or DSL, run a speed test in the evening before relying on 4K or on several screens at once.

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. Bell’s DSL is listed at anywhere from 5 to 100 Mbps depending on the line, so test before you count on it.

Boom TV is an app on your TV device. Nothing is installed on the line, and nothing changes on your account with Vidéotron, Cogeco, Bell or anyone else.

When it buffers, look inside the house first

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, not 2.4 GHz. The 2.4 GHz band is slower and more crowded.
• Run an Ethernet cable to the main TV if you can. A wired connection takes Wi-Fi out of the picture.
• Move the router out of the basement or cabinet. Floors and walls between it and the TV cost signal.
• Test at the time you actually watch. A weeknight evening tells you more than a quiet afternoon.

Getting set up in Saguenay

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 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 Vidéotron or Cogeco in Saguenay?

Yes. Both own cable networks here, and Boom TV runs over either one the same way it runs over Bell fibre or DSL. Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

Why does my neighbour have a different cable company?

In Saguenay’s network-owner data, both Vidéotron and Cogeco own cable, and neither is mapped in every zone. What counts is the network wired to your address.

I’m on fixed wireless. Will it work?

It can. Fixed wireless is listed at 25 to 250 Mbps here, so your plan and your signal decide it. Check your evening speed against the table above, then use the free trial.

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 see the plans.