{"id":1784,"date":"2023-02-10T22:54:44","date_gmt":"2023-02-11T03:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/?page_id=1784"},"modified":"2023-02-22T16:17:10","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T21:17:10","slug":"get-a-phone-plan","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aucanadavisa.com\/fr\/useful-infos\/settling-in-canada\/get-a-phone-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"Obtenir un forfait t\u00e9l\u00e9phonique"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Cell phone plan in Canada guide, now updated.<\/em><\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div>

You\u2019ve made your plans to come to Canada, booked your flight, and now you\u2019ve just stepped off the plane and taken your first steps on Canadian soil. What\u2019s the first thing you do? Call your mom to let her know you arrived safely? Look up directions to your hotel or your new apartment? Post a story to\u00a0Instagram\u00a0to make your friends jealous?<\/p>

Well, for any of the above, you\u2019re going to need a cell phone! (Not sure what a cell phone is? In your country, you might call it a mobile phone, but it means the same thing.)<\/p>

Major Canadian Cell Phone Carriers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

The mobile service providers in each province offer different bundles of phone,\u00a0internet<\/a>, and television options. In this piece, we focus on mobile phone carrier services. A razor\u2019s edge separates the following businesses, so read carefully.<\/p>

Bell<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

Bell is usually famous among people who prefer luxurious data plans and services, but it has an economical package for users who like to stay on a budget. However, it\u2019s\u00a0Canada\u2019s Second Largest Mobile Carrier by subscriptions<\/strong>. You can save money by bundling other services with your mobile strategy, which helps offset the high prices they charge individually.<\/p>

Bell discontinued the Unlimited Share plan after a short period. A new \u201cLite\u201d plan with\u00a010GB<\/strong>\u00a0of high-speed data is available for\u00a0$30 per month<\/strong>, but it is only compatible with\u00a04G LTE<\/strong>\u00a0networks. The Essential program offers\u00a05G\u00a0<\/strong>and a hotspot; you can achieve a throughput of up to\u00a025GB<\/strong>.<\/p>

Remember that these prices are only for people who use their own devices to connect to Wi-Fi. If you want to save money and avail of Bell\u2019s services but don\u2019t require a lot of data, Bell\u2019s\u00a0Basic Phone 30 plan<\/strong>\u00a0is a good option. The\u00a0$30<\/strong>\u00a0monthly fee includes unlimited voice and text messaging throughout Canada.<\/p>

Fido<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

Fido\u00a0by Rogers Communication<\/strong>\u00a0plans is generally the best option for regular smartphone use. Cheap talk, text, and data plans are available. Switching to Fido may liberate you from the clutches of a Canadian service provider.<\/p>

The company now allows customers to\u00a0customize\u00a0<\/strong>their phone service. To begin, determine how much data you will require from each plan (Data and Text, Talk and Text, or Talk, Text, and Data). Every program includes unlimited texting, and you can get up to\u00a015 GB\u00a0<\/strong>of data for as little as\u00a0$60 per month<\/strong>\u00a0in Canada.<\/p>

Fido offers a large selection of smartphones at a significant discount for an additional monthly fee. Throughout the year, there are a variety of exciting promotions to check out.<\/p>

Freedom Mobile<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

The owner, Shaw\u00a0Communications\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0Freedom Mobile plans, provides popular services at significantly reduced rates. This appealing quality has helped propel the carrier to Canada\u2019s\u00a0fourth-largest subscribed network<\/strong>. The service from Freedom is inconsistent at best, but at least the company is honest about its flaws.<\/p>

The Canadian government\u2019s plan isn\u2019t perfect, but it aims to give people a cheaper alternative. For\u00a0$15<\/strong>\u00a0per month, you can sign up for Freedom\u2019s most basic plan, which provides them with\u00a0250 MB of data<\/strong>,\u00a0100 minutes,<\/strong>\u00a0and more. Freedom\u2019s price may have become pricey, but it\u2019s still much cheaper than in Canada.<\/p>

Unlimited data plans from\u00a0Freedom Mobile<\/strong>\u00a0start at\u00a0CAD 50 per month<\/strong>. The minimum Freedom data plan size is\u00a020GB<\/strong>, and customers receive an additional\u00a0500MB<\/strong>\u00a0of nationwide data each month regardless of their data plan size. All plans include unlimited talk and text.<\/p>

Koodo<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

Koodo, supervised under\u00a0Telus Mobility<\/strong>, offers cell phone initiatives that are reasonably priced without compromising on quality or features. Koodo\u2019s\u00a0$15\/month<\/strong>\u00a0plan might be enough if you don\u2019t make many phone calls monthly.<\/p>

You can now subscribe to a decent standard plan that includes unlimited calling across the country, unlimited texting, and\u00a010GB<\/strong>\u00a0of data for\u00a0CA$55 per month<\/strong>. Having data that is free of surprises can help you\u00a0avoid unpleasant financial surprises<\/a>\u00a0when your monthly bill arrives in your inbox, but it will not change the game.<\/p>

When you sign up for Koodo\u2019s data plan, you gain automatic access to their\u00a0\u201cshock-free data\u201d\u00a0<\/a>feature. In other words, you won\u2019t have to worry about being charged exorbitant overage fees because you never exceeded your data cap. Instead, once you\u2019ve used up your allotted data, the system will automatically disconnect you.<\/p>

Rogers<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

Rogers Wireless<\/strong>\u00a0joins other major Canadian providers, such as Bell, in offering low-value plans that won\u2019t help you save much money. But it\u2019s the center of attraction among the people as their network coverage is nationwide. Rogers Internet and TV, on the other hand, are more affordable.<\/p>

You can also look at available family plan comparisons, which may be very useful. Rogers simplifies avoiding the Canadian provider curse by providing a\u00a0CA$15<\/strong>\u00a0discount for each additional line on a family plan.<\/p>

All of Rogers\u2019 services, rebranded as Rogers Infinite, now work with Canada\u2019s most extensive nationwide\u00a05G<\/strong>\u00a0network. Storage capacities range from\u00a020GB to 60GB<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0100GB<\/strong>\u00a0in the available packages. Prices in Canada start at\u00a0$80<\/strong>\u00a0for the most basic plan and rise to\u00a0$50<\/strong>\u00a0for the most data-heavy tier.<\/p>

Telus<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h3>

Telus Mobility is the\u00a0second largest<\/strong>\u00a0Canadian cellular service provider, with\u00a010+ million<\/strong>\u00a0customers as of\u00a02022<\/strong>.\u00a0Telus<\/strong>\u00a0offers a selection of Internet-only and smartphone plans and upgrades for those interested in mobile broadband. The service includes\u00a05G, LTE, and HSPA+<\/strong>\u00a0in their main networks.\u00a0<\/p>

They can install one plan on a given device at a time, and some strategies are incompatible with certain types of hardware. In Canada, you may send and receive an unlimited amount of text messages and phone calls throughout the country and use \u201cunlimited<\/strong>\u201d data up to\u00a025GB<\/strong>\u00a0per month for just\u00a0$75 per month<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>

A shared pool of\u00a040GB<\/strong>\u00a0costs as little as\u00a0CA$85<\/strong>\u00a0per month because you may use it across all of your devices. Telus has a\u00a0CA$95\/month 50GB package<\/strong>\u00a0if you need more space. Even better,\u00a05G\u00a0<\/strong>connectivity at rates of up to\u00a01Gbps<\/strong>\u00a0is now standard with all Telus plans.\u00a0<\/p>

Mobile Coverage Map in Canada<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Canada is the second-largest country in the world by area, and because of all that space, cell phone coverage is minimal.\u00a0Rogers, Bell, or TELUS<\/strong>\u00a0only service less than 30% of Canada\u2019s total land area. The Canadian countryside is mainly unpopulated, and services are typically worse in those areas.<\/p>

However, the major networks have coverage in 99% of the largest cities in the nation. In addition to the Big Three, Canadians have a variety of other smaller providers to select from.<\/p>

Koodo, Fido, and Virgin Mobile<\/strong>\u00a0are a few of these; they run on the TELUS, Rogers, and Bell networks, respectively (There are also several separate service providers across the country, including\u00a0SpeakOut, 7-Eleven, and Petro-Canada Mobile)<\/strong>.<\/p>

Customers of smaller cell phone companies have access to similar coverage to their holding companies when collaborating with the Big Three. Additionally,\u00a0regional carriers<\/strong>\u00a0like SaskTel, Freedom Mobile, Videotron, and MTS offer benefits for Canadian cell phones.<\/p>

These businesses each provide coverage for specific regions of Canada; they might not function well elsewhere. Because of this, it\u2019s essential to verify coverage and roaming restrictions before selecting a plan.<\/p>

Roaming is a service that many cell phone providers in Canada provide, which extends coverage by enabling users to connect to another network when they are outside of their primary coverage area. While the range of mobile phones is only available in a third of Canada, it is present where it matters.<\/p>

Following are some major mobile coverage maps of Canada:<\/p>

Bell Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Bell has Canada\u2019s largest coverage map in terms of customers served. 99% of Canadians are served by its mobile network alone. Consumers are unlikely to switch to 3G coverage because Bell also has Canada\u2019s largest 4G network.<\/p>

The network covers\u00a0every major city in Canada<\/a>, focusing on Bell\u2019s coverage of those areas. Bell\u2019s coverage is robust in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Bell offers coverage for its customers across the nation at much more than\u00a04,000 Wifi hotspots<\/strong>, in addition to their cell phone network.<\/p>

Every province has access to the company\u2019s wireless signal, though less populated and remote areas have limited or no coverage. Lucky Mobile, Virgin Mobile, and P.C. Mobile are just a few of the smaller carrier brands Bell supports. Canadians now have cheaper access to the same complex web, thanks to this.<\/p>

Bell doesn\u2019t offer any options for\u00a0domestic roaming,<\/a>\u00a0but there are several options for international roaming. Thanks to Bell\u2019s extensive coverage, consumers are unlikely to require direct exposure to another network.<\/p>

BellMTS Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

In Manitoba, MTS dominated regional phone plans; however, Bell purchased the business in 2017 and changed the name to BellMTS. This significantly expanded its network, allowing it to cover the same territory as Bell.<\/p>

With service trying to reach 99% of the population and excellent network coverage across Canada, the company now has all the same benefits and drawbacks as Bell. Like Bell, BellMTS doesn\u2019t offer domestic roaming, so phone calls outside their service area are costly.<\/p>

Freedom Mobile Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Freedom Mobile, a corporation of\u00a0Shaw Communications<\/a>, offers fewer services than its rivals. The provider performs well in Vancouver and thrives in traditionally difficult-to-reach places in British Columbia. The coverage map of Freedom Mobile now includes Southern Ontario and Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>

Despite covering less than 1% of Canada, Freedom Mobile\u2019s network is accessible to nearly\u00a030% of Canadians<\/strong>. The company heavily relies on partner organizations for roaming among its primary coverage zones. The idea of wandering is such a key selling point that most Canadian cell phone plans come with allowances for roaming charges.<\/p>

With the help of unique coverage options, Freedom Mobile is expanding, along with a new frequency channel that enables their signal to pass through concrete structures as long as consumers have a compatible phone. Unfortunately, the company frequently receives the worst national rankings for network dependability.<\/p>

Rogers Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Rogers\u2019 network reaches 97 percent of Canada\u2019s population despite covering less than 20% of the country\u2019s land area. Its biggest flaw is the Territories and the Maritimes, which have less crowded provinces than the\u00a0rest of the nation<\/a>.<\/p>

Although Rogers pioneered the\u00a03G network<\/strong>, the company has lagged recently. Although the company still boasts a solid nationwide LTE network, some customers in sparsely populated areas might still connect to the company\u2019s outdated 3G infrastructure. Thankfully, they are creating a new 5G network.<\/p>

Only international travel is eligible for roaming options from\u00a0Rogers. Chatr, Fido, and Cityfone<\/strong>\u00a0are just a few smaller carriers sharing Rogers\u2019 coverage map. Customers will have more price and plan options as a result of this.<\/p>

TELUS Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Bell and TELUS are using the same mobile phone towers across Canada, which may surprise many Canadians. This indicates that TELUS\u00a0covers 99% of the inhabitants in Canada<\/strong>. Given that TELUS\u2019 Mobility network typically operates a little bit more quickly than Bell\u2019s, TELUS has a solid reputation for dependability.<\/p>

TELUS has an area that covers\u00a028.8% of Canada<\/strong>, the same as Bell and almost 10% more than Rogers. Similar to its rivals, TELUS collaborates with a variety of smaller mobile service providers, including\u00a0Koodo and Public Mobile<\/strong>, which both utilize TELUS\u2019 expansive network. TELUS, like Bell, provides some domestic roaming options.<\/p>

Users who purchase a roaming pass as an add-on can roam for free for as long as 30 days after making their purchase.<\/p>

SaskTel Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

The clue is in the name: 57% of Saskatchewan<\/strong>\u00a0is geographically covered by SaskTel, making it the best provider in the province. SaskTel offers the best cell phone coverage in Saskatchewan, surpassing established competitors Bell and TELUS. Regina and Saskatoon, the two most populated cities in the province, have an almost complete range.<\/p>

Regarding cell phone service, Sasktel\u2019s network is the only option available in rural areas. There are options for roaming when traveling abroad. Customers who leave the SaskTel network, or essentially leave Saskatchewan, will still have access to all U.S. networks through SaskTel\u2019s partner networks.<\/p>

Videotron Coverage Map<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Regional carrier Videotron provides service all over Quebec. Where the vast majority of the province\u2019s population lives along St. Lawrence, Videotron\u2019s coverage leaves a significant impression.<\/p>

Although the Videotron coverage map covers about\u00a06% of Quebec<\/strong>, wider systems like Bell and TELUS outperform them. Plans from Videotron can be used anywhere in the nation with no additional roaming fees.<\/p>

With the provider trying to reach 99% of the population and strong network coverage across Canada, the company now has all the same advantages and disadvantages as Bell. BellMTS, like Bell, does not offer domestic roaming, so phone calls outside their service area are expensive.<\/p>

How To Select The Best Canadian Phone Plans for Your Needs?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Particularly regarding data, Canada is infamous for having some of the world\u2019s most pricey cell phone plans. Prepare yourself if you want the newest iPhone and enough data to install a whole Netflix series while you\u2019re out for a daily stroll.<\/p>

Although we\u2019ll try to present you with the most affordable options, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll spend more than you were planning to. You can determine the type of your own phone plan by following these straightforward steps:<\/p>

Coverage for Cell Phones<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Despite having some of the quickest mobile data speeds in the world, it is difficult to provide cell service across the second-largest country. Despite this difficulty, nearly every business where Canadians reside has coverage thanks to Rogers, Bell, and Telus.<\/p>

Although the cell phone plans offered by these three top-quality carriers are very pricey, they also run many \u201cflanker\u201d brands that are more reasonably priced.<\/p>