Access Communications Co-operative Ltd. is a Canadian cable television provider, operating mainly in Regina, Saskatchewan and other nearby communities. It was previously known as Regina Cablevision Co-operative Ltd. but did business as Cable Regina since commencement of service in Regina in 1978 until April 2000 after acquisitions of cable television operations in Weyburn, Estevan and Yorkton and surrounding communities. Dial up Internet service was first offered in September 1995. Cable modem broadband service followed in 1997. On February 7th 2007, Access Communications launched its primary line telephone service in Regina in direct competition with Saskatchewan's government owned ILEC, SaskTel.
The co-operative's establishment in the 1970s came about only after a prolonged legal and constitutional battle between the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan's social democratic government, which had differing visions of how cable TV service should be delivered to citizens of the province.
Services
Access offers the following services:
- Internet access, including dial up and high speed via cable modem
- Analog, digital, high definition television, PVR and PPV
- Telephone
- Paging
- Web hosting, both for subscribers and commercial entities
Internet Access
One of Access Communication's core services is providing Internet access. Here is a summary of available service options in most areas it services. Options are listed in descending order of service download speed.
| Name |
Download Speed |
Upload Speed |
Standard Features |
Optional Features |
Price |
| XpressEnterprise |
7 Mbit/s |
1.5 Mbit/s |
8 static IP addresses, unlimited e-mail addresses on a custom domain name, 100 MB of web hosting space on a custom domain name, 5 dial up hours |
24/7 service, $200 / month |
$459.95 / month |
| XpressCorporate |
6 Mbit/s |
1 Mbit/s |
4 static IP addresses, 20 e-mail addresses, 5 MB of web hosting space, 5 dial up hours |
up to 4 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each; speed upgrade to 7 Mbit/s down and 1.5 Mbit/s up, $74.95 / month; 8/5 service, $249.95 / month |
$104.95 / month |
| XpressPro |
5 Mbit/s |
1 Mbit/s |
2 static IP addresses, 100 MB of web hosting space on a custom domain, unlimited e-mail addresses on a custom domain, 5 dial up hours |
up to 2 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each |
$73.95 / month |
| XpressXtreme |
10 Mbit/s |
1 Mbit/s (in major centers, 640 kbit/s in some areas) |
2 static IP addresses, 10 e-mail addresses, 100 MB of web hosting space, webmail |
up to 2 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each; $5.00 / month discount for Access TV subscribers |
$56.95 / month |
| XpressHighSpeed |
5 Mbit/s |
1 Mbit/s (in major centers, 640 kbit/s in some areas) |
2 static IP addresses, 5 e-mail addresses, 60 MB of web hosting space, webmail |
up to 2 additional static IP addresses, $9.95 / month each; $5.00 / month discount for Access TV subscribers |
$45.95 / month |
| XpressBasic |
256 kbit/s |
128 kbit/s |
1 static IP address, 3 e-mail addresses, 20 MB of web hosting space, webmail |
1 extra static IP address, $9.95 / month |
$23.95 / month (cable subscriber price) |
| XpressHighSpeedLite |
256 kbit/s up |
128 kbit/s down |
1 static IP address, 2 e-mail addresses, 20 MB of web hosting space, webmail |
$13.95 / month (cable subscriber price) |
| XpressDial-up |
up to 56 kbit/s |
up to 56 kbit/s |
unknown |
|
$0.99 / hour up to a maximum of $19.95 / month |
Access is one of the few ISPs that officially list support for the Linux operating system, as well as provide resources to Linux users.[1]
Telephone
Access' digital phone service is interesting in that it is provided by an ATA (Analog Telephony Adapter) with a built in cable modem that communicates over cable lines to a private IP (Internet Protocol) network. In this sense it can strictly be considered VoIP, in that it is voice delivered over an IP network. However, because it travels over dedicated lines and is still designed to be usable in a power outage scenario, Access Communications has attempted to distance it from the VoIP moniker. Instead, they have branded it as a "Digital Phone" service, and their marketing and customer service communications strictly avoid using the term VoIP.
External links
References
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