Shaw responds to public outcry over Internet pricing, increasing data limits

After a public outcry over rising Internet pricing in Canada, Shaw Communications Inc. has responded by increasing Internet data limits.

On Thursday, the telecom company released three new Internet pricing packages that more than doubling the amount of data on each package.

In a press release from Shaw, the company cites customers’ desire for more fairness, transparency, choice, and flexibility as the guiding factor in their new Internet packages.

Shaw Internet customers will have the choice of staying with their current Internet package, with have all had their data limit increased.

Customers may also choose to purchase new Internet packages that will roll out in June. Under the new pricing models, customers who exceed their data limit will automatically be placed in the next higher package for the remainder of the month. The company says that, unless the customer chooses to stay at the higher level, their data will be reset the following month at the original package’s limit.

Shaw’s new packaging and pricing plans come after public outrage over the CRTC’s proposal earlier this year to introduce usage-based billing – a move that could have stopped smaller Internet providers from offering unlimited data plans.

Shaw Communications Inc. is the parent company of Global News.