Switching Internet providers in Quebec: the steps, with no downtime

Your bill went up, the promotion is over or the service no longer suits you: you are thinking about switching Internet providers. Many people put it off for fear of spending a few days without a connection, or of paying fees on the way out. In reality, the switch takes a few simple steps, as long as you take them in the right order. Here is how to go about it, from the first check to the return of the old modem.

First of all: what you owe your current provider

Take out your latest bill and your contract, then note three things: the end date of your agreement if there is one, the price you really pay each month, and the equipment that does not belong to you (modem, router, Wi-Fi pod).

Good news for those who hesitate because of fees: on March 12, 2026, the CRTC announced that it was eliminating extra fees tied to activating, changing or cancelling a plan, to make it easier to switch Internet or cellphone plans (Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-43). The details depend on your provider and your contract: before cancelling, ask them in writing what you will be charged when the account is closed. The CRTC news release (in French) explains the decision.

Switching Internet providers in five steps

1. Check what is offered at your address. The service depends on the network that reaches your home. At Club Internet, the address check takes a few seconds.
2. Choose the speed based on your use, not on what you had before. Count the people and the screens in the home. Our article on how to compare Internet plans helps you read an offer.
3. Order the new service and agree on an activation date. Ask what the first bill will include: installation, prorated days, first period.
4. Keep the old service until the new one works. This is the rule that avoids downtime. A few days paid twice cost less than a week without Internet when you work from home.
5. Then close the old account and ask for written confirmation with the end date. Plan to do it yourself, unless your new provider confirms that it takes care of it.

The modem and the router: what to return, what to keep

Equipment rented or lent by your old provider must be returned to them, often within a set time; otherwise, they may bill you for it. Ask for the steps when you cancel and keep proof of the return (receipt or tracking number).

The Wi-Fi router you bought yourself is still yours and can be used with your new connection. A simple tip: if you keep the same router, your devices reconnect on their own, since the network name and the password do not change. Once it is set up, see where to place your router to get the full speed.

Do you have a home phone? Do not cancel it too early

If you want to keep your number, the order of the steps matters even more: a number whose service is already closed can no longer be transferred. Ask the new provider for the transfer first, and leave the old line active until it is confirmed.

At Club Internet, transferring your number to a home phone line costs $15 per number and takes at least 6 business days. The details are in our frequently asked questions.

The things people forget most often

• The email address from the old provider. If your email address ends with your provider's name, ask them what happens to it after you leave, and let your contacts know before closing the account.
• Automatic payments. Make sure the withdrawal for the old account really stops after the last bill.
• The last bill. Read it: period covered, equipment returned, credit if any.
• Devices plugged in by cable. After the new modem is installed, restart it each time you plug a new device into it.

How it works at Club Internet

You fill out the online order: no payment is requested at that time. We check availability at your address and call you back to confirm the activation date. A technician activates the line if needed; you plug in the modem, and you can then close your old service.

Our unlimited cable Internet plans start at $34.95 per month and go up to 450 Mbps, with unlimited data and no contract. The modem is a free rental: it is lent to you at no charge and is brought back to one of our offices at the end of the service. Installation is $50 one time if you pay monthly or every 6 months; it is free if you pay yearly. Our cancellation policy is public: read it before ordering.

A question before you decide? Call us at 1 833 541-2582, or start by checking your address.

Source: CRTC, news release “Le CRTC élimine des frais pour faciliter le changement de forfaits de services Internet et de téléphonie cellulaire”, March 12, 2026, Telecom Decision CRTC 2026-43 (consulted on November 11, 2026).