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List of mobile network operators in Canada

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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.

Parent company Brands and subsidiaries % of Canadian population covered Subscriptions Blended ARPU monthly (2019 Q3)
Postpaid Prepaid Total
Rogers Communications Rogers Wireless, Fido Mobile, Chatr Mobile,
Cityfone, Primus Wireless, Zoomer Wireless, SimplyConnect 		LTE: 96%
HSPA+: 98%
GSM: 97% 		9,438,000[7] 1,402,000[7] 10,840,000[7] $55.26[7]
Telus Corporation[note 1] Telus Mobility, Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile LTE: 97%
HSPA+: 98%
[8][note 2] 		8,311,000 (2018 Q4)[9] 924,000 (2018 Q4)[9] 10,083,000 [10] $75.06[10]
BCE Inc. Bell Mobility, Virgin Mobile, Lucky Mobile,
Solo Mobile, Bell MTS 		LTE: 97%
HSPA+: 98%
[11][note 2] 		9,038,341 [12] 796,039[12] 9,834,380[12] $69.93[12]
Shaw Communications Shaw Mobile, Freedom Mobile LTE: Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia only [13][14]

HSPA+: 98%[14]
[note 3]

1,380,693 [15] 335,403[15] 1,716,096[15] $43.60[15]
Québecor Vidéotron Mobile, Fizz Mobile Québec and Ottawa —
SaskTel SaskTel Mobility Saskatchewan
LTE/ HSPA+ (Saskatchewan): 99%[16] 		—
Eastlink Eastlink Wireless Atlantic Canada and Northeastern Ontario —
Xplornet Xplore Mobile Manitoba and Alberta —
Sogetel Sogetel Quebec —
Tbaytel Tbaytel Northwestern Ontario —
Iristel Ice Wireless, Sugar Mobile Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon —
SSi Micro SSi Mobile and QINIQ Northwest Territories, Nunavut —
TNW Networks TNW Wireless Northwestern British Columbia and Yukon —
Lynx Mobility[note 4] Lynx Mobility Northern Quebec —
K-Net Mobile K-Net Mobile Northern Ontario —
  1. ^ Telus numbers include those of recently acquired of Public and may be different from CWTA-reported.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Figure includes partner network coverage. Freedom Mobile operates its own network in Southern Ontario, Greater Vancouver Area, Calgary and Edmonton.
  4. ^ Lynx Mobility is defunct. Google Search results page says it has shut down permanently.

Mobile networks

Operator Technology Frequency Ownership Roaming
GSM
 HSPA+ LTE
 PCS
 AWS
Bell Mobility No Yes Yes Yes Yes Bell Canada Enterprises Telus Mobility / SaskTel
Eastlink Wireless No Yes Yes No Yes Eastlink Rogers Wireless / Bell Mobility
Freedom Mobile No Yes Yes[17] No Yes Shaw Communications Rogers Wireless / Telus Mobility / Bell Mobility
Ice Wireless Yes Yes Yes Yes No Ice Wireless Rogers Wireless / Videotron
Keewaytinook Mobile Yes No No No No Keewaytinook Okimakanak's (KO) Kuhkenah Network Rogers Wireless
Lynx Mobility Yes No No Yes No Lynx Mobility Bell Mobility / Telus Mobility
Rogers Wireless Shut down planned 2020[18] Yes Yes Yes Yes Rogers Communications Bell Mobility / Telus Mobility / SaskTel / TbayTel / ICE Wireless
SaskTel Mobility No Yes Yes Yes Yes SaskTel Bell Mobility / Telus Mobility
Shaw Mobile No Yes Yes No Yes Shaw Communications Rogers Wireless / Telus Mobility / Bell Mobility
Sogetel Mobilité No Yes Yes Yes Yes Sogetel Bell Mobility / Telus Mobility
SSi Mobile Yes No Yes No No SSi Micro Rogers Wireless
TbayTel Mobility No Yes Yes Yes No Thunder Bay Telephone Rogers Wireless
Telus Mobility No Yes Yes Yes Yes Telus Communications Bell Mobility / SaskTel
TNW Wireless Yes Yes No No No TNW Wireless Inc.
Vidéotron Mobile No Yes Yes No Yes Vidéotron Rogers Wireless
Xplore Mobile No No Yes No Yes Xplornet
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
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
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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 30th, 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]
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.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Travel SIM cards and specialty services

Operator Ownership Network provider Notes ,
Flexiroam 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[39] 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.[40] They sell physical SIM cards, in addition to supporting eSIM and Apple SIM for the iPad.
ZIP SIM Otono[40] T-Mobile USA Offers American numbers. Top-Ups are allowed within 72 hours of plan expiry.[41]
Roam Mobility (Canada) Otono Various Offers Canadian numbers for roaming in Canada. SIMs expire after usage. Stop service on June 30, 2020[42]
iRoam, formerly Brightroam iRoam Mobile Solutions Rogers International SIM, offers Canadian and American numbers.[43]
Know Roaming Know Roaming Various A global SIM sticker placed on an existing SIM card.[44]
PhoneBox PhoneBox Rogers (postpaid) / Telus (postpaid) Offers Canadian numbers. SIMs expire after usage.[45]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Subscribers Stats EN 2016 Q3" (PDF). CWTA. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Communications Monitoring Report 2015" (PDF). CRTC.
  3. ^ "Mobile Service Providers". February 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Geist, Michael. "CRTC falls short on true wireless competition".
  5. ^ Chin, Brian. "No room for low-cost MVNO smartphone plan providers in Canada".
  6. ^ "Percentage of revenues and subscribers derived via primary brands, extension brands, and resellers/rebillers, 2014" (PDF). Communications Monitoring Report. CRTC.
  7. ^ a b c d "ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2019 RESULTS" (PDF). October 23, 2019.
  8. ^ "Telus Network Coverage (Q2 2015 report)".
  9. ^ a b "TELUS CORPORATION Management's discussion and analysis 2018" (PDF). February 14, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "TELUS CORPORATION Management's discussion and analysis 2019 Q3" (PDF). November 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Bell Network Coverage".
  12. ^ a b c d "BCE reports third quarter 2019 results". October 31, 2019.
  13. ^ Dobby, Christine (November 21, 2016). "Wind Mobile seeks fresh start with name change, LTE service". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Cell Coverage Zones". Freedom Mobile. December 28, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d "Shaw Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2020 Results" (PDF). January 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel completes LTE expansion and boasts largest LTE network in Province - SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
  17. ^ Behar, Rose (December 15, 2016). "Freedom Mobile's LTE network is now actually live in Toronto and Vancouver". MobileSyrup. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
  18. ^ Behar, Rose. "Rogers extends availability of GSM/GPRS network to December 2020". MobileSyrup. MobileSyrup. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  19. ^ "CDMA network change". Bell Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  20. ^ soon to be absorbed by PCM
  21. ^ only data, no voice
  22. ^ http://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/Bell-to-complete-shutdown-of-CDMA-wireless-network-on-April-30-1. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ^ "About TELUS". about.telus.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  24. ^ "DMTS Notice to Customers " Dryden Municipal Telephone System". Dryden Municipal Telephone System. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  25. ^ 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
  26. ^ "Wireless services & superphones from Bell Mobility - Bell Canada". www.bell.ca.
  27. ^ "Lynx Mobility - Home EN". www.lynxmobility.com.
  28. ^ Hardy, Ian (May 10, 2016). "Rogers to shutter Mobilicity, will shift stores and customers to chatr mobile". MobileSyrup.
  29. ^ "NorthernTel Mobility and Télébec transition". support.bell.ca.
  30. ^ http://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases/show/northwestel-wireless-moves-to-bell-mobility
  31. ^ a b "Public Mobile". www.publicmobile.ca.
  32. ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel turning down CDMA Network July 2017 - SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
  33. ^ "About SaskTel - SaskTel Turning Down EV-DO Data Service - SaskTel". www.sasktel.com.
  34. ^ "TBayTel signs agreement to purchase Superior Wireless - Media.Knet.Ca". media.knet.ca.
  35. ^ "Tbaytel tells customers to upgrade older cell phones".
  36. ^ https://www.telebec.com/english/magasinage_ligne/asp/mobilite/transfert_bell.asp/[permanent dead link]
  37. ^ "Telus pushes back CDMA network shutdown to May 31st, 2017". February 1, 2017.
  38. ^ "Mike® is retiring".
  39. ^ Cite error: The named reference airalo.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  40. ^ 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)
  41. ^ "USA Prepaid SIM Cards for Short-Term Wireless Service - ZIP SIM". www.zipsim.us.
  42. ^ "Canadian Prepaid SIM Cards for Short Term Wireless Service - Roam Mobility Canada". www.roammobility.com.
  43. ^ "International SIM Cards, Cell Phones & Data Plans from Brightroam". www.brightroam.com.
  44. ^ "Reduce Roaming Fees With KnowRoaming". KnowRoaming.
  45. ^ "PhoneBox Wireless Service Provider". gophonebox.com.
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