Q&A: ‘A winning equation’ — telMAX exec optimistic about future for independent Canadian ISPs

Compared to many smaller internet service providers (ISPs), the GTA-based telMAX stands out. Unlike some other independent firms, telMAX is less interested in reselling internet on larger carriers’ infrastructure, and instead focusing on raising the capital needed to build out its own fibre networks in various municipalities across southern Ontario. This week, The Wire Report met with telMAX chief operating officer Bradley Fisher in Barrie, Ont., the target of the company’s latest expansion, to discuss the challenges facing independent ISPs, the market for alternative carriers, as well as telMAX’s plan to become a top three fibre provider in Canada. Can you tell me about the history of telMAX? It’s a relatively young company that was founded in the eastern GTA, and the head office is now in Markham, Ont. Brooklin, Ont., was the very first market, and it was a test pilot for the company’s pivot into pure fibre optics. So, we’re not just a reseller of one of the other big brands and their infrastructure, the pivot was into designing, building and operating our own infrastructure. So, the resale is not our game. We are a digital infrastructure company. There’s not many smaller companies that are building out their own infrastructure. That’s because it’s hugely capital intensive. It’s a long-term investment and it’s the same kind of investment as investing in a power grid or electric power generation that serves communities. So, where does the money come from? Are you reliant on government funding, private investors, or some combination? Some of the independents use municipal, provincial, or federal subsidy programs, but telMAX hasn’t played into those programs, partly because of where we have prioritized our build. The areas we have prioritized have not been designated areas for those subsidies, so we have largely been funded on our own. Speaking of which, telMAX recently expanded into Barrie, Ont. Can you tell me what prompted that? Barrie was an attractive market for us because it’s a city of some size, and our research shows there’s a demand for faster connectivity to the things that matter, as well as being able to connect at the speeds the world is moving towards. So, you have a situation where fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-business hadn’t been built, and there were no signs it was coming soon. And, we have a strategy to serve those underserved communities and unserved markets. What do you mean when you talk about underserved communities? Places like Barrie still have internet coverage, so how is it underserved? They don’t have the choice because providers that are operating here don’t offer fibre. So, we are bringing that pure fibre optic experience to markets that don’t have it. It’s not our strategy to build somebody else’s fibre, so if one of the larger competitors had already built infrastructure in a place, it might not be a great candidate for us. Some independent carriers are focusing on new builds and, in particular, apartments and condominiums. Is that your strategy? We’re more focused on present and existing homes — what we would call brownfield, as opposed to greenfield or brand new construction. That’s not to say we’re not interested in doing some greenfield in the future, but our focus has largely been on existing developments. In particular, Barrie was a great choice because there’s larger houses and businesses in a tighter geographic centre, which enables us to efficiently deploy capital and reach more of them for every dollar we put in the ground. Last year, you met with CRTC leaders and I’m wondering what you talked about with them? Those meetings were really just an introduction. They were interested in our value proposition and our hypothesis in terms of why we’re making the investments we’re making, as well as the barriers we face in making infrastructure decisions. We also got to talk about some of the challenges with the pace of permitting and inspections in certain municipalities. We spoke a little bit about how, at the federal level, there’s opportunities to drive change in those aspects of municipal decision-making that could expedite more infrastructure building. Many Canadians are frustrated by a lack of competition in the telecoms space. Do you think that’s part of the appeal for companies like telMAX? Consumers and businesses deserve more choice. In Canada, we haven’t had as many choices and I think that’s part of the value proposition for telMAX and other independents to Canadians because there’s a choice for more speed, better service, and more local support. Does telMAX have any specific short-term priorities? Getting our network to reach more homes and businesses, and give them a fair choice for a vastly superior product than what they’re able to get today on legacy technologies like DSL (digital subscriber line) and coaxial cable. How many people use telMAX internet? We don’t share the numbers, but I would tell you that our network reaches tens of thousands of homes. Do you see a future where independent telcos can stand on equal footing with incumbent carriers? If you look at some markets outside of Canada, like Australia or the U.K., there’s a structural separation between the owners and operators of a network, and the purveyors of the internet service that traverses those networks. So, you see a more mature wholesale framework that allows competition to come to the market on a more even footing. In Canada, we’re starting to see the beginnings of that, as we now have some regulatory decisions on tariffs of fibre and companies competing outside their market for the first time. You look at the vertical integration of some of these Canadian companies, and they all own national wireless plays, television services, some own other content, so we’re probably a ways off from a market like what you see in the U.K. or Australia, but I think consumers are on the path to getting more choice. And, we certainly see a great future for independents willing to raise the funds and invest in digital infrastructure on their own, like telMAX is doing. We think it’s a winning equation, we know the paybacks are good, and the market research we did has been validated because consumers and businesses have responded. They’ve made the choice to move to independent brands and I think, as the offerings mature, we’ll see more of that. Canadians aren’t often used to having a choice and, as they get comfortable with that, people might start to try it. Where do you see telMAX in five years? Every day, I work on plans to get telMAX to become one of the top three or four fibre providers in the country. dlegree@thewirereport.ca Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q&A: ‘A winning equation’ — telMAX exec optimistic about future for independent Canadian ISPs

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By Davis Legree
|February 20, 2026

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Q&A: ‘A winning equation’ — telMAX exec optimistic about future for independent Canadian ISPs

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