View source for Rogers Hi-Speed Internet

{{Infobox company
 |name          = Rogers Ignite
 |logo          = Rogers Communications (2015).svg
 |logo_caption  = 
 |type          = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Rogers Communications]]
 |foundation    = November 28, 1995<ref name="Cablelink-1995">{{cite web|url = http://www.rogers.com/web/content/internet-xp|title = Creating World-Leading Internet Experiences|publisher=Rogers Communications|access-date=2012-08-17}}</ref>
 |location      = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
 |key_people    = 
 |industry      = [[Internet Service Provider]]
 |products      = [[Cable Internet]], [[Email]], [[FTTH]]
 |revenue       = 
 |num_employees = 
 |owner         = [[Rogers Communications]]
 |homepage      = {{url|rogers.com/internet}}
}}

'''Rogers Ignite''' is a [[broadband]] [[Internet service provider]] in [[Canada]], owned by [[Rogers Communications]]. Rogers previously operated under the brand names '''[[@Home Network|Rogers@Home]]''', '''Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet''', '''Rogers Hi-Speed Internet''', '''WAVE''', and '''Road Runner ''' in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]. It is currently the second largest Internet provider in Canada, after [[Bell Internet]] by customer count.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}}

As of October 2024, the division does business as '''Rogers Xfinity Internet''', as part of a [[Brand licensing|brand]] and technology licensing agreement with U.S. cable provider [[Comcast]].

== History ==

===1990s: Early years===
Rogers' started high speed internet service as a way to aid [[remote work]]ers.

The Rogers' cable home Internet network was first launched on November 28, 1995 and was available to about 16,000 homes in [[Newmarket, Ontario]]. The service was branded WAVE. It was [[North America]]'s first cable Internet service.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://about.rogers.com/About/Our_History.aspx | title=About Rogers - Our History | publisher=Rogers Communications | access-date=2014-12-20 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216085131/http://about.rogers.com/About/Our_History.aspx | archive-date=2014-12-16 }} Rogers later adopted the [[DOCSIS]] standard.</ref><ref name="Cablelink-1995" />

===2000s: Growth and relationship with Yahoo!===
By the year 2000, the service was rebranded to Rogers@Home and availability was extended to more cities in [[Ontario]] and [[British Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cable/athomecontent/atHome.asp | title=Rogers@Home | publisher=Rogers Communications | access-date=2012-01-21 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000517132648/http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cable/athomecontent/atHome.asp | archive-date=2000-05-17}}</ref>

In 2004, Rogers partnered with [[Yahoo!]] to offer Rogers Yahoo! Hi-Speed Internet to its members. This included service offers unlimited e-mail storage, plus access to Premium Yahoo! Services at no charge, including a [[Flickr]] PRO account. Customers with websites previously hosted by Rogers were offered the option of transferring to ca.geocities.com addresses. (Unike regular GeoCities websites, these were ad-free for existing accounts, although those for new customers had drop-down ads.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,14811144|title=Geocities Web Space without Ads - Subthread moved - Rogers - DSLReports Forums|website=DSL Reports|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> All such websites were discontinued with the closure of [[GeoCities]] on 27 October 2009. Although still partnered with Yahoo!, Rogers dropped Yahoo! from its services name in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t618894.html|title=NeoWin forums|website=neowin.net|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>

In mid-2009, Rogers discontinued giving free Flickr Pro accounts to all Rogers customers and switched all accounts to the free version while allowing old pictures and videos to be stored even though it was over the allowed limit. Rogers Mail accounts continue to be provided by Yahoo!.

=== 2010s: DOCSIS 3, fibre to the home (FTTH) and price increases ===
On January 16, 2012, customer advocacy blog Stop The Cap! reported that Rogers increased the price of all its cable Internet services by $2, except for Lite and Ultra-Lite which remain unchanged. Rogers blames its slightly higher cap limits and its SpeedBoost technology as reasons for the price increase. A customer, however, was quick to point out that the cable company "introduced 'SpeedBoost' as a 'free' feature which we are now apparently/effectively going to pay more for".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://stopthecap.com/2012/01/16/rogers-hiking-prices-on-broadband-by-2month-blames-service-enhancements/ | title=Rogers Hiking Prices on Broadband by $2/Month; Blames Service "Enhancements" | last1=Dampier | first1=Phillip | date=16 January 2012 | access-date=2012-01-21}}</ref>

A few days later, Stop The Cap! reported that DOCSIS 3.0 customers would benefit from a speed and usage increase. By February 21, Express speeds of up to 12&nbsp;Mbit/s would now be up to 18&nbsp;Mbit/s, while Extreme speeds of up to 24&nbsp;Mbit/s would be increased to 28&nbsp;Mbit/s. Also, Ultimate speeds of up to 50&nbsp;Mbit/s would now be up to 75&nbsp;Mbit/s. On March 8, data allowances for each plan would be increased by 10&nbsp;GB and 20&nbsp;GB, respectively. In August 2012, Rogers doubled speeds on its Lite plan from 3&nbsp;Mbit/s to 6&nbsp;Mbit/s. It also increased its usage caps from 15&nbsp;GB to 20&nbsp;GB.

On August 1, 2012, Rogers started the availability of an unadvertised Ultimate tier which offers 150&nbsp;Mbit/s of download speed and 10&nbsp;Mbit/s of upload speed. Currently being implemented within the GTA area, the company plans to extend this service's availability to the rest of Ontario by the end of 2012. Customers with the older Ultimate tier will be informed when the new tier is available.{{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Rogers introduced [[optical fiber|fibre]] to the home (FTTH) residential internet service in 2012. It is only available is select areas of Toronto, ON and Moncton, NB.

In March 2015, Rogers introduced a streamlined package structure, known as '''Rogers Ignite'''. The Ignite packages are aimed primarily towards [[streaming media]], with the majority of the packages offering no usage caps.<ref name=cb-ignite>{{cite web|title=Rogers aiming to simplify with new "Ignite" Internet offering|url=http://www.canadianbusiness.com/companies-and-industries/rogers-ignite-robert-goodman-interview/|website=Canadian Business|access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref> In October 2015, Rogers launched Ignite Gigabit Internet, which supports [[4K resolution]] streaming to [[Rogers Cable]] NextBox 4K receivers.<ref name=gandm-rogers4k>{{cite news|title=Rogers leveraging sports ownership to push 4K TV|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-leveraging-sports-ownership-to-push-4k-tv/article26672645/|access-date=6 October 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref><ref name=cbc-4krogers>{{cite web|title=Rogers announces Ignite Gigabit internet, 4K sports broadcasts|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rogers-internet-1.3256745|website=CBC News|access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref>

In November 2015, Rogers launched a [[Fido Solutions|Fido]]-branded home internet service in its Ontario markets, offering a 30&nbsp;Mbit/s package with a 300&nbsp;GB bandwidth cap, and discounts for Fido mobile customers.<ref name=cbc-fidointernet>{{cite web|title=Fido wireless carrier adds internet service in Ontario|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/fido-internet-ontario-1.3328157|website=CBC News|access-date=24 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=gandm-fidointernet>{{cite news|title=Fido launching home Internet service as Rogers targets millennials|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/fido-launching-home-internet-service-as-rogers-targets-millennials/article27374462/|access-date=24 December 2015|work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref>

===2020s: Rogers Xfinity Internet===
Rogers then announced a deeper technology partnership with [[Comcast]] in April 2024, and began rebranding its Ignite products as "Rogers [[Xfinity]]" later that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2024/10/29/rogers-rebrands-ignite-tv-to-xfinity/|title=Rogers rebrands Ignite TV to Xfinity|first=Brad|last=Bennett|work=MobileSyrup|date=October 29, 2024|access-date=November 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Services==
Rogers offers cable Internet using the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification ([[DOCSIS]]) standard. They also offer value-added services such as [[Internet security]] [[computer software]].

===Cable Internet===
Cable Internet from Rogers is branded as "Hybrid Fibre", to indicate that on the [[coaxial cable]] in customers' homes, the frequencies used for Internet service are separate from those used for Rogers' [[cable television]] service. Available at a variety of speeds, from Lite (10&nbsp;Mbit/s down, 1&nbsp;Mbit/s up) to Ultimate (250&nbsp;Mbit/s down, 20&nbsp;Mbit/s up) tiers. Rogers Hi-Speed Internet Ultimate Fibre's speeds are 350&nbsp;Mbit/s down and 350&nbsp;Mbit/s up. Rogers Hi-Speed Ultimate and Ultimate Fibre's usage caps had been increased dramatically to 1&nbsp;TB/month and 2&nbsp;TB/month respectively.

Those who do not subscribe to television services from Rogers cannot access most analog cable channels. Channels 2 to 6, however, can be legally watched without a subscription. These channels are also available over the air, with the exception of the TV guide on channel 4.

Rogers Hi-Speed Internet users may be warned, through their browser via Rogers-injected code, that they have reached 75% or 100% of their monthly limit. This message explains that there will be charges for additional usage after the 100% warning for exceeding their limit. The overcharge fees are charged on a per-gigabyte basis, rounded down to the nearest gigabyte. Overage costs as low as $0.50 for the high-end Ultimate plan, but costs as much as $4.00 for the low-end Lite plan. All plans except for Lite are [[DOCSIS]] 3.0 compatible.

===Fibre Internet (FTTH)===
Rogers confirmed that it is using fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to power a new broadband service tier that provides upload and download speeds of up to 350&nbsp;Mbit/s (symmetric). The tier, called Rogers Ultimate Fibre Internet, is currently{{when|date=June 2021}} available only in parts of Toronto and the MSO's Atlantic region, which includes Moncton. According to Rogers, this is not a beta but in fact a first market rollout of fibre to the home service; meaning rogers is likely to expand this to other areas. The service comes with a monthly 2-terabyte usage limit. Pricing is listed at $225.99 CAD<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogers.com/web/link/hispeedBrowseFlowDefaultPlans|title=Internet Plans - High Speed Internet at Home - Rogers|website=www.rogers.com|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> per month as of October 30, 2013. This new service is based on [[Passive optical network|GPON]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=227349&site=lr_cable|title=Rogers Starts to Get It On With GPON - Light Reading|website=lightreading.com|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>

===Security===
While previously offering [[Norton Internet Security]], Rogers switched to offering Rogers Online Protection. It contains anti-virus/spyware, parent/privacy control and firewall features. A cutoff time of June 30, 2009 was set for people to switch from their previous protections to this new one.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rogers.com/upgradesecurity|title=Rogers.com|first=Rogers Communications|last=Inc.|website=www.rogers.com|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>

The security suite is distributed for free with basic services, such as antivirus, antispyware, firewall, and parental controls, while premium services, at an additional cost, include PC optimizing tools, [[identity theft]] protection, wireless security services, and backup services. The security suite only supports [[Microsoft Windows]] operating systems.

===Legacy services===
{{Main|Inukshuk Wireless}}
Rogers previously offered a Portable Internet service in select rural regions, similarly to its competitor [[Bell Internet]]. These services used the [[Inukshuk Wireless]] network. The company is no longer accepting subscriptions to this service, as they plan to discontinue the service on March 1, 2012. Customers are encouraged to use [[Rogers Wireless]] Internet services instead, which generally offer a much lower bandwidth cap.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mobilesyrup.com/2011/12/14/rogers-discontinuing-portable-internet-service-march-1st-2012-now-only-option-for-rural-customers-is-a-4g-hspa-device/ | last1 = Hardy | first1 = Ian | title = Rogers discontinuing Portable Internet service March 1st, 2012, now only option for rural customers is a 4G HSPA+ device | date = 14 December 2011 | access-date=2011-12-14}}</ref>

==Criticism ==
Rogers has been criticised for traffic redirection and inspection. They use [[deep packet inspection]] to identify and throttle [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]] traffic.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/union-urges-crtc-to-curb-internet-interference-by-bell-rogers-1.706918 Tech Net Neutrality] on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]], March 28, 2008</ref> and use website address errors (failed DNS lookups) to redirect traffic to their search portal.<ref name="DigitalHome">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/2689/206|title=Rogers violates net neutrality by hijacking failed DNS lookups|website=digitalhome.ca|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref> They have also made a controversial move to display advertisements in webmail despite users having to pay for the service (usually in paid web-apps, there is no advertising).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/Business/article/553164|title=Net result: Ads irked customers - The Star|website=thestar.com|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref><!--Domain stolen by SEO spammer from Miami: <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.p2pnet.net/story/17603|title=p2p.net story|website=p2pnet.net|access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>-->

===Throttling===
[[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]] traffic was restricted through [[bandwidth throttling]] using the SCE-2020, and in later years, the SCE-8000 from [[Cisco Systems]] Inc, which had caused complaints as users felt Rogers was overstepping their bounds as a service provider and despite Rogers advertising their service "for sharing large files and much more". Rogers had previously denied such allegations, despite widespread reports of the issue. Further controversy arose when in May 2007, Rogers began throttling all encrypted file transfers allegedly to combat BitTorrent traffic, but affecting all encrypted transfers regardless if they are BitTorrent traffic or not.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Rogers Bit Torrent Cat & Mouse
| publisher = dslreports.com
| date = 2006-02-09
| url = http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/71914
| access-date = 2007-06-15 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| title = Rogers Fights BitTorrent by Throttling All Encrypted Transfers
| publisher = torrentfreak.com
| date = 2007-04-11
| url = http://torrentfreak.com/rogers-fighting-bittorrent-by-throttling-all-encrypted-transfers/
| access-date = 2007-06-15 }}</ref>

In January 2011, the CRTC issued a letter to Rogers stating it was breaking CRTC policy by not "indicat[ing] that there are circumstances whereby the Rogers ITMP will also affect download speeds available to subscribers."
<ref>{{cite web
|title = CRTC letter to Rogers
|date = 2011-01-13
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5574/125/
|access-date = 2011-02-04
}}</ref> Despite the letter from the CRTC, Rogers still had not updated their policy pages as of February 4, 2011, and continued throttling all non-[[whitelist]]ed internet traffic (no longer just P2P) for up to 15 minutes after P2P had been disabled. Several games had been caught up in this more restrictive throttling as Rogers was incorrectly detecting them as P2P, and had also been slow to fix it despite offers of assistance from customers, and game manufacturers.
<ref>{{cite web
|title = Rogers throttling/deprioritizing World of Warcraft
|date = 2011-01-21
|url = http://communityforums.rogers.com/t5/forums/forumtopicpage/board-id/Getting_connected/thread-id/557
|access-date = 2011-02-04}}</ref>

On May 31, 2011, Rogers filed that they had resolved the [[World of Warcraft]] throttling, however they had only resolved it on their testing equipment, as users were still experiencing throttling.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Rogers Faces Yet Another Net Neutrality Complaint
|date = 2011-06-10
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5848/196/
|access-date = 2012-08-08
}}</ref> This resulted in the CRTC ordering testing done by Rogers, and the CRTC providing the complainant (Teresa Murphy) a redacted copy of the Rogers testing. On September 22, 2011, the CRTC released [http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-609.htm Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2011-609], which set out new steps for complaints, and allowed for the [[World of Warcraft]] complaint to be sent to the CRTC Enforcements division. While the World of Warcraft complaint was then closed as it was resolved, the creators of the WoW complaint created a new one, which was then sent to Enforcements division, who then began looking into Rogers' throttling practices, and found additional<ref>{{cite web
|title = CRTC Investigation Finds Rogers Violated Net Neutrality Rules
|date = 2012-01-20
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6252/125/
|access-date = 2012-08-08
}}</ref> 
non-compliance.<ref>{{cite web
|title = CRTC Uncovers New Rogers Net Neutrality Violation
|date = 2012-03-02
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6354/135/
|access-date = 2012-08-08
}}</ref>

After Bell announced they were ending throttling in December 2011,<ref>{{cite web
|title = CRTC's Net Neutrality Rules in Action: Bell To Drop P2P Traffic Shaping
|date = 2011-12-20
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6209/125/
|access-date = 2012-08-08
}}</ref> and the CRTC Enforcement division finding another violation of CRTC throttling policy in January 2012, Rogers announced on Feb 6, 2012 that they were ending throttling on their network by the end of 2012.<ref>{{cite web
|title = Rogers Announces Plans To Drop Internet Throttling This Year
|date = 2012-02-06
|url = http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/6294/196/
|access-date = 2012-08-08
}}</ref>

===Injection of content===
[[Image:Using-rogers.png|thumb|Rogers injects a warning message into Google.com]]

Since early December, 2007, Rogers has been injecting their own content into other companies' websites without permission.<ref>[http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ISPs-Injecting-Their-Content-Into-Websites-90134 "Rogers tests new cap warning system, raises neutrality alarms"]. DSLreports.com.</ref> Rogers users who are close to their maximum [[data cap]] in their internet plan of choice are seeing red text appear above the content of every website they visit. The notice continues to appear on every page until the user either clicks a link acknowledging that they have seen the message or chooses to opt out of the notification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071210-canadian-isp-tests-injecting-content-into-web-pages.html|title=Canadian ISP tests injecting content into web pages|website=arstechnica.com|date=11 December 2007 |access-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>

{{-}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.rogers.com/internet Rogers Hi-Speed Internet]

{{Rogers Communications}}
{{Yahoo! Inc.}}
{{Canadian ISP}}

[[Category:Rogers Communications]]
[[Category:Yahoo! co-branded ISPs]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of Canada]]