Number of fixed broadband connections

Remote work, digital education and consumer expectations for high-speed access continue to drive fixed broadband connectivity in Canada in 2025. Demand for digital platforms in both professional and personal spheres shapes this driver, with broadband speeds generally accommodating multimedia use. Market dynamics now reflect high saturation in urban areas, as most households already maintain broadband connections. The Universal Broadband Fund's rollout supports these conditions, as nearly 94.0% of Canadian residences have access to fast internet at almost 60 Mbps. Connections grew by 2.7% in 2025, reaching 17.3 million, underscoring the importance of infrastructure policy and persistent provider competition in reducing entry barriers and promoting upgrades.

Over the 2020 to 2025 period, rapid broadband uptake characterized the early COVID-19 era, with spikes in telecommuting and remote learning boosting subscription growth, mainly among students and professionals. Growth rates moderated following the relaxation of social restrictions, but consistent population growth helped keep connections expanding. Key events shaping this trend include federal initiatives like the Economic Action Plan and the Universal Broadband Fund. These programs focused on extending service to rural and northern communities, subsidizing new infrastructure and striving for near-universal access at a minimum of five megabits per second. Progress was uneven due to persistent technical and geographic challenges, contributing to a wider gap between cities and more remote areas. The rise of smart devices, cloud services, and streaming platforms consistently elevated the threshold for what constitutes adequate connectivity, which, combined with falling broadband prices and technological improvements, reinforced the sector's relevance as essential infrastructure. Competition among providers and declining costs have characterized the driver, maintaining moderate growth as connections increased with a CAGR of 2.2% from 2020 to 2025.

Market saturation became a defining macro trend late in the period, with incremental gains increasingly coming from network upgrades and population growth, rather than the conversion of previously unconnected households. Despite ongoing challenges in infrastructure delivery to dispersed, low-density regions, high connectivity rates were sustained as broadband became embedded within business operations, education and entertainment. The proliferation of connected devices and reliance on cloud-based applications further anchored the sector's macroeconomic importance. Capital investment remained relatively low compared to other utilities, and government support schemes continued to shape network expansion and accessibility.