What’s the Best VPN for Calgary Internet Users?

[Gi-JiHad]

Hey everyone,

I’ve been looking into VPNs lately and was wondering what the best option is for people in Calgary. I need something reliable for streaming, browsing, and keeping latency low, . Bonus points if it works smoothly with Rogers or Shaw Low latency.

Here’s the thing: I was watching this YouTube video recently, and they mentioned WestNet Calgary has a Verizon-based VPN with crazy low latency. Apparently, it’s way faster for Calgary-to-US connections compared to Telus or Shaw. That sounds pretty impressive, especially for stuff like Netflix or gaming.

Has anyone tried WestNet Canada? Is it really that good? Or are there other solid options I should look into? Would love to hear what’s worked for you guys!  Their page is really cool 

[rstra]

Spam. Reported.

[Gi-JiHad]

**bleep** reported 

[Gi-JiHad]

Hey 

https://support.shaw.ca/t5/internet-discussions/looking-for-a-vpn-with-servers-in-calgary/td-p/2127

[mdk]

@Gi-JiHad wrote Apparently, it’s way faster for Calgary-to-US connections compared to Telus or Shaw. 

Huh? Shaw's headquarters are (were?) in Calgary. 

Shaw's infrastructure has optical-cable from Calgary to Vancouver, and cross-border into the USA (between Vancouver and Seattle).  Is that fast-enough for you?

Shaw has redundancy -- Calgary --> Edmonton --> Vancouver.

Shaw also has optical-cable to Winnipeg, and then cross-border optical-cable into the USA.  Is that fast-enough for you?

If you were to connect to a VPN-server in Calgary, from your IP-address on Shaw, your packets would have to "exit" from Shaw in Calgary, reach the VPN-server, and then "enter" the Shaw (or Telus) network to get to the Packet-Interchange in downtown Vancouver, and then cross the border into the USA.  That will add latency, as compared to directly connecting (over Shaw) from Calgary to Vancouver and then into Washington State.

A VPN-server in Calgary will "piggy-back" on the existing cross-Canada Internet. It would be extremely costly for any VPN company to have their own cross-Canada optical cables, to try to build a "faster" network.

Short answer: no VPN will be as fast as Canada's Internet infrastructure (Shaw, Rogers, Telus, Bell).

.

[Gi-JiHad]

@mdk

You might be surprised, but WestNet Canada isn’t just piggybacking on existing infrastructure. They’ve invested in their own dedicated fiber paths across the border, leveraging Verizon’s backbone and private peering arrangements. Instead of simply routing through the standard Shaw or Telus optic links, WestNet’s routes use optimized transit agreements and proprietary pathways that bypass common bottlenecks. This often results in noticeably lower latency for cross-border traffic, especially from Calgary to major U.S. points of presence.

In other words, WestNet isn’t just another VPN plugging into the same old fiber; they’ve laid or leased dark fiber segments and built direct peering relationships that reduce the number of “hops.” This means their connection doesn’t suffer from the same congestion or detours you’d get by sticking to the traditional incumbents’ routes. It’s not about having a single cable to the U.S.—it’s about maintaining a specialized infrastructure that prioritizes Calgary-to-U.S. speed. That’s why users are reporting better performance with WestNet compared to the one-size-fits-all networks of the big ISPs.