IPTV St. Albert

St. Albert sits right against Edmonton, but it’s its own city, with its own story and its own wiring. On an independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings, both of the area’s big wired networks show up in every zone of the city: Telus fibre, and the cable network that was Shaw’s and now belongs to Rogers. Here’s what that means for streaming TV over the internet, and what Boom TV needs to run smoothly on your connection.

Start your free 24-hour trial

A Métis settlement on the Sturgeon River

St. Albert was founded in 1861 as a Métis settlement, when Father Albert Lacombe built a small chapel in the Sturgeon River valley. The city still sits on the Sturgeon River. St. Albert became a city on 1 January 1977, and had 68,232 people at the 2021 census.

It lies northwest of Edmonton. When Edmonton expanded its boundaries in the 1980s, the two cities ended up side by side along St. Albert’s southern and eastern sides. Next door is Sturgeon County.

So a short drive can take you across a city line in one direction or into a rural county in the other, and the internet options at an address can change with it.

Telus fibre, planned for most of the city

In April 2019, Telus announced a plan to connect more than 90 per cent of homes and businesses in St. Albert directly to its fibre-optic network, along with neighbouring communities in Sturgeon County. Construction was to start that June, and Telus said it expected to connect the majority of homes and businesses by the end of 2020.

That was a plan at the time. Today, that coverage map lists Telus fibre in all five of St. Albert’s mapped zones. It also lists Telus DSL, which runs over older copper phone lines, in every zone. So if you’re a Telus customer, ask which technology actually serves your address.

Cable: the network that used to be Shaw’s

Rogers completed its purchase of Shaw on 3 April 2023, so the former Shaw network is now owned by Rogers.

That coverage map lists this cable network, under both the Shaw and Rogers names, in all five of St. Albert’s zones. The former Shaw network is also listed as a fibre owner in four of the five, and a smaller fibre owner, Northern Lights Fiber, appears in one.

The map counts network owners only, so a reseller may sell you service over one of these lines under its own name.

Boom TV works on any home connection that meets the speeds below. Test it on your own line with the free trial. Boom TV is an app you install and sign into, nothing is installed on the line, and Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

If a fast connection still buffers, the cause can be inside the house:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi rather than 2.4 GHz. It’s faster, and less crowded in apartment buildings and attached homes.
• Plug the main TV in with Ethernet if you can. A wired connection takes Wi-Fi out of the picture.
• Keep the router out of basements and cabinets. Walls and floors cost signal.
• Count everyone else on the network. Downloads and video calls share the same connection as your TV.

Getting set up in St. Albert

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 for a full evening. If it plays cleanly, choose a plan on the plans page.

No installer, no new wiring, and no change to your internet account.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Telus fibre in St. Albert?

Yes. Boom TV runs over Telus fibre and doesn’t need anything from Telus. Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

Does it work on Rogers or Shaw internet?

Yes. Shaw is now part of Rogers, and Boom TV runs on that cable network the same as on Telus fibre.

I’m still on Telus DSL. Can I stream?

Check your speed in the evening, in the room with the TV, and compare it with the table above. If it falls short, ask Telus what else serves your address.

I live in Sturgeon County, just outside the city. Will it work?

Boom TV works on any home connection that meets the speeds above. Test it on your own line with the free trial.

Is there a free trial?

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