End of a TV era: Bell to scrap your set-top box in favour of streaming, launches ‘unbreakable’ internet

Say so long to your Bell set-top box.

Bell Canada’s parent company is going all-in on its digital transformation, including a plan to scrap the box — the ubiquitous in-home digital interface that connects fibre networks to televisions — in favour of direct streaming on a smart TV or device a customer already owns.

The announcement by BCE Inc., was one of several made by the company Tuesday at an investors day event held in the ballroom of the Delta Hotels Toronto that laid out the company’s plans for growth.

The set-top boxes will be phased out starting in January for new customers. People renting boxes from Bell can return them if they have a smart TV that can download and stream Bell’s Fibe TV app.

The company also announced plans to launch the ‘unbreakable internet’ in the sprin