List of mobile network operators in Canada
This is a list of mobile telephony providers in Canada.
As of Q3 2016, there are over 30 million wireless subscriptions in Canada.[1] Approximately 90% of Canadian mobile phone users subscribe to one of the three largest national telecommunication companies (Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, and Telus Mobility) or one of their subsidiary brands. These three mobile network operators own and operate transmission facilities that cover most of the country, though they sometimes share each other's networks in certain geographical regions in order to reduce costs and reach more customers.
The remaining 10% of subscribers are served by smaller, regional providers, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), and resellers.[2] Regional providers own and operate transmission facilities that cover a limited area and rely on partnerships with national service providers to connect their customers across Canada. In contrast, MVNOs and resellers do not own spectrum or network infrastructure and are required to lease network capacity from other providers at wholesale rates. While MVNOs have their own facilities to package and support their mobile services, resellers rely on the host network provider to package, market, bill, and deliver mobile services.[3]
All wireless service providers in Canada are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which has been blamed by some for the concentration of wireless service subscribers to only three large national carriers. Though measures have been taken to encourage more competition, critics suggest that more should be done to address the issue, e.g. by mandating wholesale network access for MVNOs.[4][5]
Mobile network operators
This is a list of mobile network operators, which includes national and regional service providers. Where applicable, this list will also include any subsidiary "extension" brands associated with a mobile service provider. While primary brands, such as Rogers Wireless or Bell Mobility, account for roughly 82% of wireless revenue, extension brands allow wireless service providers to differentiate service offerings and reach broader market segments.[6]
This list is ordered from largest to smallest by the number of current subscriptions.
- ^ Telus numbers include those of recently acquired of Public and may be different from CWTA-reported.
- ^ a b Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility have a multiple operator core network agreement to provide a common radio network to the customer (distinct from a roaming arrangement, where the radio networks are separate). Bell builds most of its towers in Eastern Canada, while most of Telus' towers are in Western Canada.
- ^ Figure includes roaming coverage. Freedom Mobile operates its own network in parts of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.
- ^ Lynx Mobility is defunct. Google Search results page says it has shut down permanently.
Mobile networks
| A Bell has already shut down their CDMA network[19] |
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and resellers
| Operator | Ownership | Network provider | SIM cost, $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless | Ztar Mobile | Rogers | 10 |
| rasamobile.com | Rasa Mobile | Rasa Mobile | 10 |
| dotmobile | Data On Tap Inc. | Iristel | - |
| Cansel Connect | Cansel | Rogers (M2M) | 25 |
| DCI Wireless | DCI Telecom | Telus | 30 |
| Execulink Mobility | Execulink Telecom | Bell | |
| good2go Mobile Canada[20] | Ztar Mobile | Rogers | -- |
| KORE Wireless[21] | KORE Telematics | Rogers (M2M) | -- |
| OnStar | General Motors | Bell (M2M) | |
| PC Mobile | Loblaws | Bell (prepaid) | 10 |
| Petro-Canada Mobility | Ztar Mobile | Rogers | 10 |
| Wundle Mobile | Fabricate INC | Telus | - |
Push-to-talk networks
| Operator | Ownership | Coverage | Technology | Frequency | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleetcom | Fleetcom Inc. | Toronto | iDEN | SMR | Active | |
| Airtel Wireless | Airtel Wireless Ltd. | Calgary | iDEN | SMR | Active |
Former mobile networks
This list includes legacy network terminations as well as defunct network operators.
| Operator | Type | Ownership | Purchased by | Ceased operations | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Mobility | CDMA | Bell | — | April 30, 2019[22] | |
| CityWest | CityWest | December 13, 2013 | Wireless services discontinued; mobile customers will be transitioned to Telus[23] | ||
| Clearnet | CDMA | Clearnet Communications | Telus Mobility | 2000 | Network merged with Telus |
| Dryden Municipal Telephone Service | GSM, CDMA | Dryden Municipal Telephone Service | Wireless sold to Tbaytel, Wireline to Bell Aliant | December 21, 2012 | Wireless customers migrated to Tbaytel[24] |
| Fido | GSM | Microcell | Rogers Communications | November 8, 2004 | Network merged with Rogers; Fido operates as MVNO |
| Kenora Municipal Telephone Service | CDMA | Kenora Municipal Telephone Service | Wireless sold to Bell Aliant | February 2008 & July 19, 2015 | Wireless customers sold to Bell Aliant.[25] KMTS wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.[26] |
| Lynx Mobile | CDMA | Lynx Mobile | — | December 31, 2015 | CDMA network replaced by GSM Network[27] |
| Mobilicity | AWS, HSPA+ | DAVE Wireless | Rogers Communications | 2015 | Rogers will transition some Mobilicity retail locations and all its customers to Rogers sub-brand Chatr Mobile. As of August 16, 2016, Rogers will stop activating new Mobilicity lines.[28] |
| MTS Mobility | HSPA+ | Manitoba Telecom Services | Bell Mobility | 2016 | |
| NorthernTel Mobility | NorthernTel Mobility | Bell Aliant | July 19, 2015 | NorthernTel Mobility wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.[29] | |
| Northwestel | Northwestel | Bell Mobility | June 19, 2014 | Wireless services discontinued, sold to Bell Mobility.[30] | |
| Public Mobile | CDMA with Ev-DO | Public Mobile | Telus Mobility | August 8, 2014[31] | Telus MVNO[31] |
| SaskTel | CDMA | SaskTel | — | July 5, 2017[32] | CDMA network's EVDO support ended on September 30, 2014[33] |
| Superior Wireless | CDMA | Superior Wireless | TBayTel | August 2006 | Merged with TBayTel[34] |
| Tbaytel | CDMA | Tbaytel | — | December 31, 2014.[35] | |
| Télébec Mobilité | Télébec Mobilité | Bell Aliant | July 19, 2015 | Télébec Mobilité wireless subscribers moved to Bell Mobility.[36][dead link] | |
| Telus Mobility | CDMA | Telus | — | May 31, 2017[37] | |
| Telus Mobility | iDEN | Telus | — | January 29, 2016 | |
| Mike | iDEN over SMR | Telus | — | January 29, 2016[38] |
Former subsidiaries
| Operator | Ownership | Network provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Mobile | Bell Mobility | Bell | Discontinued for new customers, but still active for current ones. |
| Clearnet (Telus Mobility) | Telus | Telus | Discontinued as of June 2, 2012. Started on April 5th, 2011 by Telus. |
Travel SIM cards and specialty services
| Operator | Ownership | Network provider | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rasamobile | RASA Mobile | Bell, Telus, Rogers | SIM Card, 4G Data in 150 countries using 547 Networks. SIM has no expiry. Pick a US./Canada number. Prepaid Data/Talk Plans available by visiting www.rasamobile.com
, Self care Account. Global Data Plans offer NO Expiry & Unlimited minutes. Outbound VoIP calling with your own caller ID.|[1]. Additional services: Fax Out, International Mobile TopUp, 2nd mobile number and Long distance Calling. |
| Flexiroam | Bell, Telus, Sasktel, Videotron | eSIM, SIM Card & SIM Sticker. 4G Data in 160 countries using 580 Networks. SIM has no expiry. Prepaid Data Plans purchased using the Flexiroam X Mobile App. Data Plans can be gifted to other users via Flexishare. Global Data Plans offer long expiry 360 days & Data Rollover. Outbound VoIP calling with your own caller ID. | |
| Airalo | Airalo | Rogers | E-Sim Provider |
| AlwaysOnline Wireless | Otono | Various | A global data network for travelers. AlwaysOnline Wireless is an on-demand 4G LTE service in over 45 countries with plans by the hour, by the day, or by the megabyte.[39] They sell physical SIM cards, in addition to supporting eSIM and Apple SIM for the iPad. |
| ZIP SIM | Otono[39] | T-Mobile USA | Offers American numbers. Top-Ups are allowed within 72 hours of plan expiry.[40] |
| Roam Mobility (Canada) | Otono | Various | Offers Canadian numbers for roaming in Canada. SIMs expire after usage. Stop service on June 30, 2020[41] |
| iRoam, formerly Brightroam | iRoam Mobile Solutions | Rogers | International SIM, offers Canadian and American numbers.[42] |
| Know Roaming | Know Roaming | Various | A global SIM sticker placed on an existing SIM card.[43] |
| PhoneBox | PhoneBox | Rogers (postpaid) / Telus (postpaid) | Offers Canadian numbers. SIMs expire after usage.[44] |
See also
- Mobile country code#Canada - CA
- List of Canadian electric utilities
- List of Canadian telephone companies
- List of telephone operating companies
- List of mobile network operators of the Americas#Canada
- List of United States wireless communications service providers
References
- ^ "Subscribers Stats EN 2016 Q3" (PDF). CWTA. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "Communications Monitoring Report 2015" (PDF). CRTC.
- ^ "Mobile Service Providers". February 16, 2016.
- ^ Geist, Michael. "CRTC falls short on true wireless competition".
- ^ Chin, Brian. "No room for low-cost MVNO smartphone plan providers in Canada".
- ^ "Percentage of revenues and subscribers derived via primary brands, extension brands, and resellers/rebillers, 2014" (PDF). Communications Monitoring Report. CRTC.
- ^ a b c d "ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2020 RESULTS" (PDF). October 23, 2020.
- ^ "Telus Network Coverage (Q2 2015 report)".
- ^ a b "TELUS CORPORATION Management's discussion and analysis 2018" (PDF). February 14, 2019.
- ^ a b . Third Quarter 2020 https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/11/06/telus-q3-2020/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Bell Network Coverage".
- ^ a b c d . Third Quarter 2020 reports third quarter 2020 results https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/11/05/bell-q3-2020/ reports third quarter 2020 results.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Dobby, Christine (November 21, 2016). "Wind Mobile seeks fresh start with name change, LTE service". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ a b "Cell Coverage Zones". Shaw Mobile. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Shaw Announces Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results" (PDF). October 30, 2020.
- ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel completes LTE expansion and boasts largest LTE network in Province - SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
- ^ Behar, Rose (December 15, 2016). "Freedom Mobile's LTE network is now actually live in Toronto and Vancouver". MobileSyrup. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
- ^ "Important Notice Regarding Upcoming 2G/3G Changes on the Rogers Network". Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "CDMA network change". Bell Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ soon to be absorbed by PCM
- ^ only data, no voice
- ^ "Bell to complete shutdown of CDMA wireless network on April 30". bce.ca.
- ^ "About TELUS". about.telus.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- ^ "DMTS Notice to Customers " Dryden Municipal Telephone System". Dryden Municipal Telephone System. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ http://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/city-of-kenora-unanimously-approves-bell-aliant-offer-to-purchase-kenora-municipal-telephone-system-for-27-million
- ^ "Wireless services & superphones from Bell Mobility - Bell Canada". www.bell.ca.
- ^ "Lynx Mobility - Home EN". www.lynxmobility.com.
- ^ Hardy, Ian (May 10, 2016). "Rogers to shutter Mobilicity, will shift stores and customers to chatr mobile". MobileSyrup.
- ^ "NorthernTel Mobility and Télébec transition". support.bell.ca.
- ^ http://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/northwestel-wireless-moves-to-bell-mobility
- ^ a b "Public Mobile". www.publicmobile.ca.
- ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel turning down CDMA Network July 2017 - SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
- ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel Turning Down EV-DO Data Service". www.sasktel.com.
- ^ "TBayTel signs agreement to purchase Superior Wireless". media.knet.ca.
- ^ "Tbaytel tells customers to upgrade older cell phones". cbc.ca.
- ^ https://www.telebec.com/english/magasinage_ligne/asp/mobilite/transfert_bell.asp/[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Telus pushes back CDMA network shutdown to May 31st, 2017". February 1, 2017.
- ^ "Mike® is retiring".
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "USA Prepaid SIM Cards for Short-Term Wireless Service - ZIP SIM". www.zipsim.us.
- ^ "Canadian Prepaid SIM Cards for Short Term Wireless Service - Roam Mobility Canada". www.roammobility.com.
- ^ "International SIM Cards, Cell Phones & Data Plans from Brightroam". www.brightroam.com.
- ^ "Reduce Roaming Fees With KnowRoaming". KnowRoaming.
- ^ "PhoneBox Wireless Service Provider". gophonebox.com.
Mobile phone parts & accessories
