Fibe (formerly FibreOP) is the brand name used by Bell Aliant for its suite of fiber to the home (FTTH) unified communication services, including Internet access, IPTV, and home telephone service, available in much of Atlantic Canada and previously in some regions of Ontario and Quebec. The Fibe service covers an entire urban area with a fibre optic network.
Fibe Internet service offers the following stand-alone unlimited speed options: 100 Mbit/s download and 100 Mbit/s upload (now available in a bundle with voice, voice and TV or TV only),[1] 150 Mbit/s download and 150 Mbit/s upload, 300 Mbit/s download and 300 Mbit/s upload, and up to 1 Gbit/s download and 940 Mbit/s upload.[2] In a bundle Bell Aliant offers the following unlimited speed options: 150 Mbit/s download and 150 Mbit/s upload, 500 Mbit/s download and 500 Mbit/s upload, 1 Gbit/s download and 940 Mbit/s upload, upgradable to 1.5 Gbit/s download and 940 Mbit/s upload .[3]
Fibe TV service offers: 200 SD channels, over 200 HD channels, and over 98 music channels. Bell Aliant has upgraded the middleware of their Fibe TV product to Microsoft Mediaroom. Fibe TV now gives customers access to Whole Home HD and 4K, Whole Home PVR, an extensive Video on Demand library, Next Generation Interactive Program Guide, Restart - the ability to Restart shows aired in the past 30 hours, Wireless TV, A Remote App, GO Apps, and Amazing apps that include such apps as Netflix and Weather Network App.[4]
Fibe TV Key services include:
Whole Home PVR: a brand name also used by many of Bell Aliant's competitors. It describes a system where all receivers in a household are connected together via a local network. This allows viewers to record, pause and playback content from any room in the house. Fibe TV PVR's can store up to 150 hours of HD (300 hours of standard) content.
Ability to search for programs by title, cast members, or a simple keyword search. The electronic program guide has 14 days worth of listings and allows viewers to customize the display to show their favourite channels.
Picture in picture browsing and channel surfing: viewers can watch one channel and browse other channels or channel listings.
Fibe TV App.
Fibe TV on Demand: A VOD service with over 1000 titles, including movies & TV series.
Changing channels happens with virtually no delay compared to satellite service.
In late 2009, Bell Aliant launched its FibreOP services with deployment commencing in New Brunswick and was the first in Canada to cover an entire city with fibre to the home (FTTH) technology.[5] Simultaneous deployments followed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in 2010–2011 with the services available to approximately 1,000,000 homes and businesses by end of 2014.[6] This was an evolution of earlier efforts that saw Bell Aliant predecessor NBTel deploy television services in the Saint John, New Brunswick urban area in the 1990s, followed by a similar deployment in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[7]
On July 19, 2016 Bell Canada stated that its FibreOP TV service available in Atlantic Canada would be integrating with Bell Fibe TV in Ontario and Québec.[8]
On September 6, 2016, Bell announced a change to their Fibe TV service. Beginning in 2017, the company said Fibe TV customers would no longer be required to also sign up for Fibe Internet service in order to access their Fibe TV service.『As we align our next-generation IPTV technologies, we’re bringing exclusive Fibe features to Atlantic Canada and new options for Fibe TV customers in Ontario and Québec,』said Wade Oosterman, Bell Group President and Chief Brand Officer.[9]
In June 2011, Shediac and Miramichi were added to the list of deployment communities for Fibe service. Installation to homes and businesses is currently rolling out.
On April 7, 2011, Bell Aliant announced the beginning of Fibe services in Newfoundland and Labrador, beginning with a $22 million build-out in the city of St. John's and surrounding communities on the northeast Avalon Peninsula.[14] In addition to St. John's, Fibe service is available in many areas of the Province.
