Rogers already has a similar idea, except, not for free... 

https://www.rogers.com/internet/internet-connectivity-backup?ecid=PS_R0347_R_RES_Dec_25_6RS_F3POW5&ecid=PS_R0050_R_CAB_Apr_19_ALW_F87FG2&s_kwcid=AL!5244!3!809579808886!b!!g!!rogers%20internet%20backup&gcm_uid=AMsySZYI4zAJ55CFuRSTANrNnYtU&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22331558570&gbraid=0AAAAADQoWSDG-AB_mDzPomMiykpCa0XCO&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-N29kPfXlAMV9jjUAR3PrBcJEAAYASAAEgImQfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

My question is - how long will they support the product?  When they first rolled out 1 Gig fibre to the home I was one of the early customers.  My sagecom modem, from Bell had a back up power supply and provided service during power outages.  That was great, though the wifi coverage side of the modem left something to be desired.  The battery eventually failed, because all rechargeable batteries have a lifespan.   Bell would not service the modem, or provide a replacement battery....why?  Because they're Bell and that's what they do.  I eventually had to find a source for the battery which I located off-shore.  Other family members had the same problem.  Bell no longer supported the modem and did not offer an upgrade or replacement with battery backup power.   I left Bell for another provider, and I power the modem using a highly reliable CyberPower UPS power system.   
I still have "Bell Dishcare" for the Expressvu satellite service.  I own all of my receivers - outright.  The contract provides for "free" replacement of the receiver with a comparable product when it fails.  Bell provides refurbished models, which frequently fail.  You have to battle Bell management if two receivers fail within a 12 month period.   Here's the other catch.  Bell terminated its lease for its 2nd Nimiq satellite but did not properly reprogram the receivers properly.   The "switches" that are covered under Dishcare are what are called Switch 21's.  They don't function with a "1 satellite" scenario.  Of course Bell's service plan does not cover the current satellite reality.

As for their "new" solution.  Thanks but no thanks.  I no longer trust Bell's marketing department or its off-shored service.

RadioAaron wrote:

Shorty Wave wrote:

RadioActive wrote:

If your modem goes out, so does the WiFi on your home computer. Now Bell is offering some customers a back-up plan during power outages that could keep them online for several hours in case their electricity fails. 

It would be offered free of charge, as part of a package to clients in Ontario and several other provinces. 

Bell Canada launches home internet backup service for outages 

 
I have Bell and have had this feature kick in at least twice of late. Pretty handy if you have something that you urgently need the internet for, just make sure your batteries are charged!

And it doesn’t surprise me that it’s free with Bell, but Rogers is charging for it, mind you, Rogers is packaging out employees so maybe not so surprising, they have a hockey team to pay for after all!

Bell's is free because it uses your cell phone to provide the signal -- a Bell cell phone, of course. So they're hoping that's incentive enough to get some people to switch their cell provider. Rogers' solution does not motivate a cell provider switch, so they charge.

So is Bell offering a boost to the amount of Data one gets now? Or...?? How does this work exactly? 
What is the minimum requirement for data on  a phone to qualify?  
It would appear that when the power is out, this simply means using a lot of data...(?)

AspectRatio wrote:

Here's Bell's own page on the service which has the "fine print".

"Now there's some fine print for you!" - Shrek 


PJ