Tag: telus

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Mobile Syrup

Rogers, Bell, Telus plans start the year a little pricier than before

Canada’s ‘Big Three’ carriers — Bell, Rogers, and Telus — ushered in the New Year with plans that are the same as or a little more expensive than last year.

January is always a bit of a weird time for carrier plans since things change fast and frequently during Black Friday/Boxing Day and the holiday shopping period. As such, I thought it’d be worth taking a moment to look at what plans the Big Three have on offer now, how the plans differ (if at all) from pre-holiday plans and holiday offers, and really set a benchmark to look back to when plans inevitably change going forward.

We’re going to focus on the unlimited offers here since those are the primary options pitched by carriers. It’s also worth noting that these plans all include calling, texting and other add-ons — we’re going to focus on the data since that’s usually the only differentiating factor. That said, I will highlight any additional differences when they show up.

Additionally, some of the plans mentioned below include Canada-U.S. roaming. Unlike the standard roaming packages carriers offer, which charge customers a daily fee for a set number of days based on the destination (i.e. $10/day for 15 days in the U.S.), Canada-U.S. roaming plans include access to data, calls and text while in the U.S., no additional roaming fees required. You can check out the default roaming packages at the following links: Rogers | Bell | Telus.

Finally, all the unlimited plans include a data allotment. Customers can access data at full network speed until they use up the allotment — after that, the carriers throttle data speeds to a maximum of up to 512Kbps. There are no overage charges, so you can keep using data at the slower speed if you want.

Bell

Bell’s plans as of January 19th, 2022.

Let’s start with Bell, since it has the most different set of plans. Bell’s current unlimited plans include:

  • $90/mo 40GB
  • $100/mo 50GB (includes Canada-U.S. roaming)
  • $175/mo 100GB

Bell’s plans effectively remained unchanged from October 2021 through the holidays. The carrier previously had an $80/mo 20GB plan that’s no longer available. Additionally, Bell’s 40GB plan previously cost $85/mo, so that’s gone up in price.

The $95/60GB plan has been replaced with the more expensive, worse value $100/50GB, but it’s worth noting that Bell previously offered a $125/50GB plan before October 2021. Moreover, the $100/50GB plan now includes Canada-U.S. roaming, although that isn’t super useful given the ongoing pandemic. There’s a $195/100GB Canada-U.S. plan as well, but it doesn’t show up until customers start the check-out process.

The $175/100GB plan remains unchanged.

You can check out Bell’s plans here.

Rogers

Rogers’ plans as of January 19th, 2022 (note the $175/mo 100GB plan isn’t shown here).

Almost all of Rogers’ plans are listed as ‘Limited Time Offers,’ typically with more data or a reduced price compared to the ‘normal’ versions of those plans:

  • $80/mo 20GB (usually 15GB)
  • $90/mo 40GB (usually 25GB)
  • $100/mo 60GB (usually $125/mo 50GB)
  • $175/mo 100GB

It’s worth noting that the $80/20GB plan has remained unchanged (and listed as a ‘Limited Time Offer’) since October 2021. Similarly, the $90/40GB has also remained unchanged through the holidays, although Rogers did briefly offer an $80 version of the 40GB plan that didn’t include free Disney+.

As for the $100/60GB plan, Rogers offered a $95 version of that plan during the holidays. Prior to that, it had a $110/50GB plan. The $175/100GB plan remains unchanged.

Finally, it’s worth noting all the Rogers plans include six months of free Apple Music, while the $90/mo+ plans include six months of free Disney+. Some of the plans are limited to new activations or hardware upgrades. During checkout, customers can also choose to add Canada-U.S. roaming for $20/mo.

You can view Rogers’ plans here.

Telus

Telus’ plans as of January 19th, 2022.

Finally, Telus’ plans exist in a bit of a weird spot. Last year, the Vancouver-based national carrier ditched its somewhat confusing ‘Peace of Mind’ and ‘Peace of Mind Connect’ monikers. ‘Connect’ plans allowed customers to add additional devices, like tablets, to share the unlimited data available through that smartphone plan. Since removing that option, Telus’ plans now all offer shareable data for connected devices (if you pay an extra $10/mo per SIM-enabled device).

  • $80/mo 20GB (limit of two connected devices)
  • $90/mo 40GB (includes unlimited international messaging and ‘visual voicemail 25’)
  • $100/mo 50GB (includes everything in the $90 plan plus Canada-U.S. roaming)

Instead, Telus now works in some extra benefits to its more expensive plans, such as advanced voicemail features or Canada-U.S. roaming.

Telus’ $80/20GB plan hasn’t changed since October (including through the holidays). The carrier previously offered a $95/60GB plan, bumped it up to $100/60GB during the holidays and added the Canada-U.S. calling, and now has it at $100/50GB. Finally, the $90/40GB plan was previously available for $85/mo.

You can view all of Telus’ plans here.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Telus offers fastest mobile speeds in Canada, Shaw takes broadband; report

Telus continues to be the fastest mobile operator in Canada, according to recently released statistics from Ookla’s Q4 Canada Market report for 2021.

Ookla owns and operates speedtest.net, a website that analyzes internet performance.

Prior quarterly reports for the year also placed Telus in the top spot. The Q4 report shows Telus has a speed score of 98.29, a significant increase from 81.93 reported in Q3.

Freedom Mobile also kept its spot from Q3 by offering the lowest latency at 19 milliseconds (ms).

Vidéotron emerged with the highest consistency score in the mobile sector once again. The higher the score, the better internet performance and quality.

The findings weren’t as clearcut when reporting 5G performance, as there was no “statistical winner.” However, Bell did have the highest median download speed on the network at 171.39Mbps. Telus came in second with 167.74Mbps.

The same goes for 5G availability in Canada. While there was no winner, Rogers reported 41.3 percent availability and Telus 39.9 percent.

Telus was the fastest provider in Manitoba, B.C., and Ontario. Rogers was the quickest provider in Saskatchewan. Provider information on the remaining provinces was not available.

Google devices have the fastest overall performance. The iPhone 13 Pro Max had the quickest download speeds when looking at individual devices.

Broadband

Different players entered the top ranks in the broadband aspect of the report.

Shaw offered the fastest fixed broadband services with a speed score of 197.22. Rogers, which will soon merge with Shaw, came in second with a speed score of 183.63.

Bell had the lowest latency at 5ms, and Rogers presented the highest consistency score.

New Brunswick had the fastest broadband download speeds in Canada. Rogers is the “fastest provider” in the province, along with Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario.

Shaw is the fastest in B.C, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, while Bell is listed for Nova Scotia and Quebec. Information on Prince Edward Island is unavailable.

Source: Ookla

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Telus now offers its ‘Internet for Good’ program to seniors in Alberta and B.C.

Telus is expanding its ‘Internet for Good’ program to seniors in Alberta and B.C.

The program, first launched in 2016, provides low-income families and people with disabilities access to the internet at a reduced rate.

The seniors program gives those receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement two options for unlimited data: Internet 25 with speeds up to 25Mbps for $10 a month or Internet 50 with speeds up to 50Mbps for $20 a month.

The program focuses on helping seniors access resources, staying connected with loved ones, and other aspects that can assist with their mental health, which has become increasingly difficult throughout the pandemic. Data from Statistics Canada shows 33 percent of seniors reported a decline in their mental health since the pandemic began.

Those eligible can apply for the program on telus.com/InternetForGoodSeniors. A copy of their Old Age Security must be provided to confirm eligibility. Qualifying customers already with Telus can also partake in the program.

The program is only available in Alberta and B.C. at this time. MobileSyrup has asked Telus if it plans to expand the program to more provinces.

“Our country’s seniors have contributed significantly to the fabric of this nation, having built and supported the infrastructure, economy and social services that we enjoy today,” president and CEO, Darren Entwistle, said in a statement.

Customers partaking in this program can also access to the LivingWell Companion Home for $5 a month. This service offers 24/7 support to seniors at the push of a button.

Image credit: Telus

Source: Telus

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Pixel 6 series will finally get December/January update on January 17, according to Canadian carriers

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will finally get Google’s December/January Android security patch next week if Canadian carriers are correct.

According to Fido’s and Telus’ OS update schedules, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will receive the anticipated security update on January 17th.

Google initially rolled out the update back on December 13th. The December update was delayed more than a week, but it came with 80 fixes and other improvements. However, it also included a nasty bug that cause the phone to drop calls. Because of this issue, Google paused the rollout of the update.

When the beginning of January rolled around, many hoped the January and December update would hit their Pixel 6 devices, but that wasn’t the case. Only Pixel devices ranging from the Pixel 3a to Pixel 5a received the patch.

But hopefully, next week’s update solves these problems.

The update’s standout features include improved fingerprint sensor stability and performance, fixes for screen flickering and full 23W wireless charging from the Pixel Stand 2.

Further, there are also several specific camera updates:

  • General image quality improvements in camera preview/capture
  • General improvements for camera stability and performance
  • General improvements for auto-focus response in certain capture modes
  • General improvements for colour consistency in viewfinder preview
  • Fix for issue causing blank viewfinder preview in certain conditions

You can check out the complete list of fixes from the December update, here.

The January security patch provides a fix for an Android issue that can prevent emergency calls. The update also fixes Wi-Fi call dropping issues, incorrect data usage accounting, a memory leak in the system UI and more.

You can find all the fixes for the January update, here.

Hopefully, the above carrier release timeline is accurate because otherwise, there will be a lot of upset Canadian Pixel 6 owners.

Source: Fido, Telus

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Telus says its 5G network now reaches 70 percent of the Canadian population

Telus announced that its 5G network now reaches 70 percent of the Canadian population.

In a press release posted on the Vancouver-based national telecom’s website, Telus said that 744 Canadian communities now benefit from its “blazing fast” 5G network. The expansion is part of the company’s $54 billion investment in infrastructure and operations through 2024.

Further, Telus says it’s ahead of schedule on connecting Canadians to 5G, with the 744 urban and rural communities connected so far clocking in at 129 more communities than planned for this year.

The carrier went on to break down how many communities have access to its 5G network in different regions:

  • British Columbia: 202 communities
  • Quebec: 245 communities
  • Alberta: 151 communities
  • Manitoba: 14 communities
  • Ontario: 105 communities
  • Atlantic Canada: 27 communities

Telus wrapped up by highlighting several partnerships involving 5G, such as the collaboration with GM that will see the manufacturer’s 2025 vehicles offer built-in connectivity with Telus 5G, or work with IBM on 5G edge computing.

While it’s good to see Telus expanding 5G connectivity to more places, it remains unclear how much of the network, if any, uses the 3,500MHz spectrum auctioned off last year. Telus did not respond to questions about 3,500MHz deployment before publication (and we’ll update this section if there is a response).

3,500MHz spectrum is critical to 5G as it occupies part of what’s considered mid-band or ‘Sub-6‘ 5G. Mid-band 5G spectrum offers significant speed and latency benefits over low-band 5G, which operates on similar spectrum to 4G networks. It differs from high-band 5G, or mmWave, which offers greater speeds but much shorter range.

The deployment of 3,500MHz spectrum should usher in more tangible benefits for Canadians with 5G-capable devices.

You can read Telus’ announcement in full here.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here are the changes to Canadian mobile rate plans this week [January 13 – January 19]

With over 13 wireless carriers in Canada, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest promotions and cell phone rate plan changes. 

MobileSyrup will compile the latest weekly rate plan deals every week. You can also check out our guide on plans across Canada to find the right plan for you.  You can compare from 47,842 options and 13 carriers in Canada to find the best option.

It’s worth noting that rate plans are always subject to change and that we’ll do our best to keep this list updated as accurately as possible.

Canadian carrier rate plan changes this week

New deals:

  • Buy a new phone online and save $50, shop now.
  • Unlimited Share 100 plan is $15/mo. cheaper and Unlimited 20, 40, 60 and Canada/US plans are $10/mo cheaper in MB, QC & SK compared to main regions.
  • Get 500MB bonus data/mo. with automatic monthly top-up options with the $30, $40, $45 & $55 prepaid plans.
  • Various phone accessories on sale

Ongoing deals:

  • $50 Promo plan with 10 GB of non-shareable data. For new activations only. (QC)
  • Enjoy 25 GB at max. speeds for $65/mo. on Québec’s best network.
  • Get 20GB of data for only $50/month on Canada’s best network.
  • Trade in your device and get a minimum of $100 towards a new one.
  • Connect your other devices and enjoy unlimited data from $10/mo.
  • Pair Bell mobility with your Bell service and get 20GB of data for just $50/mo. in QC and for $65/mo. in ON.
  • Save $25/month for every team member you add to your account.
  • Get three lines with unlimited data and no overages for an average of $55/month.
  • Get three months of Apple Fitness+
  • Switch your business to Canada’s best 5G network and get a credit of $200 per line.
  • Get bonus 100MB data/mo with unlimited Canada-wide minutes for $25/mo with automatic monthly top-up options.
  • Trade-in your old device and save
  • Get six months of Crave Total on us with new smartphones on Bell SmartPay
  • Get our unlimited talk and text plan for just $30/mo.
  • Save $15/mo. for every family member you add to your account.
  • Various monthly phone credits on select smartphones with SmartPay or SmartPay + Device Return Option
  • Get up to 500 MB bonus data/mo. when you sign up for Automatic Monthly or Automatic Monthly/Low Balance Top-Up option on eligible plans.
  • Save $40 on the intelliARMOR UV Shield+ portable sanitize

Browse Bell cell phone plans

New deals:

  • This week’s Fido XTRA: A contest!
  • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $150 down and $33.34/mo with Fido Payment Program.
  • Apple iPad 7 is on clearance
  • Apple iPad (8th Generation) certified pre-owned available for $0 down
  • Get Extra $5 Credit Per Month on ZTE Grand X View 4 and $6.50 Credit Per Month on the certified pre-owned ZTE Grand X View 4

Ongoing deals:

  • Save up to $35 per month for 12 months on unlimited Home Internet 75u or 150u when you pair with a Mobile plan. (ON)
  • Trade-in select devices and get a minimum credit of $100
  • Don’t wait. iPhone 12 mini for $0 down!
  • Each month, all year long, 10 Fido customers will win 1 YEAR of FREE Fido service.
  • Various smartphones on deals
  • Accessories you want for $0 down
  • Get a Samsung Galaxy device and get up to 4 months of YouTube Premium
  • One Month Free Service when you invite your friends and they join Fido.

Browse Fido cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Get 100 GB bonus per year with all-Inclusive 20GB, 25GB plan as well as 15 GB Canada – US without border plan
  • Trade-in your old device for the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, save $480 with selected 24-month plans and the Take-Back Credit.
  • Combine a 24-month Mobile plan to a Helix plan and get a $10 monthly discount.
  • Sale on phone cables, chargers and audio accessories
  • Deals and monthly savings on various smartphones

Ongoing deals:

  • Save $24/month on 400 Internet and enjoy the best Wi-Fi technology in Québec
  • Save $52/month on 60 Internet with 39 TV channels.
  • Vrai and Club Illico are offered for six months with any subscription to a Helix Internet and TV or Helix TV App Plan.
  • Save up to $720/year with multiline plans
  • Take advantage of the monthly discount with multiline $10 to $15 per line each month (depends on the number of lines)
  • For a limited time, Vrai is offered for six months when you add it to your mobile plan
  • HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 and the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 on sale now
  • Take advantage of all the benefits of Helix internet starting from $50/mo.
  • Get a discount and save up to $15 per plan every month if you team up by four
  • Get extra 100GB per year, always at full speed
  • Helix unlimited 400 internet at $70/mo
  • Get 10 GB bonus data per year in Canada with Basic 4GB, 10GB Canada plan & $10 GB Canada-Us plan
  • Subscribe to the QUB musique Family plan at the exclusive rate of $9.99/month for 24 months
  • Up to $500 trade-in credit on any smartphone purchase
  • Club illico mobile included on All-Inclusive Mobile plans

Browse Videotron cell phone plan

New deals:

  • For a limited time, when you refer your friend to Koodo, you can both take $25 off your bill.
  • Get three months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade with pre-owned certified iPhone XR, XS Max, Xs & X.
  • Get the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $158 upfront with a Tab Plus and $33/mo.

Ongoing deals:

  • Get six months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade when you get an iPhone 11, SE, 12 Pro, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro Max
  • Get the Moto G Power for $6/ month with the Tab. That’s $171 in savings.
  • Get 12 GB of data for only $45/month
  • Prepaid SIM cards are now $10 for a limited time
  • Bonus 500 MB data per month with Automatic Top-Up on the $30, $40, $45 and $55 both Canada-wide and Province-wide calling plans (all regions)
  • Shop online and save the $50 connection fee

Browse Koodo cell phone plans 

New deals:

  • Activate or upgrade on a $75/mo or higher Rogers Infinite plan and get our most premium perks (QC) and $90 for main regions.
  • Promo on Unlimited data 40GB for $90/mo & 60GB for $100/mo with six months of free Apple Music and of Disney+, Purchase a tablet or Apple Watch on financing and get it free for 24 months (main regions)
  • Score the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $0 down on approved credit, 0% interest for only $25/mo for 24 months with financing and Upfront Edge when you return your device within two years on Rogers Infinite plans.
  • Score the Apple Watch Series 5, Series 6, or Series SE for up to 40% off with financing. Plus, get an Apple Watch plan free for 24 months on an eligible Rogers Infinite plan
  • Promo on Infinite Plan 20GB + 6 months of Apple Music for $65/mo. MB/SK/QC)

Ongoing deals:

  • Promo on the 40GB $75 plan and 60GB $85 plan with six months of free Apple Music and of Disney+, Purchase a tablet or Apple Watch on financing and get it free for 24 months (MB/SK/QC)
  • Promo on Unlimited data of 20GB + 6 months of free Apple Music for $80/mo (main regions)
  • For a limited time only, get data plans starting from $40/mo for 3GB of non-shareable data with any phone on financing or when you bring your own phone.
  • Get the iPhone 13 128GB for only $25/mo for 24 months with financing and Upfront Edge when you return your device within two years
  • Get iPhone 13 Pro 128 GB for $0 down on approved credit, 0% interest and pay only $9.33/mo for 24 months when you trade in an iPhone 11
  • Get iPhone 13 128 GB for $0 down on approved credit, 0% interest and pay only $10/mo for 24 months when you trade in an iPhone 11.
  • Get iPhone 12 mini 128GB for $15/mo for 24 months with financing and select plans with Upfront Edge
  • Add a family member to your Rogers Infinite plan starting at $45/mo. after a $15/mo discount for MB, SK, QC and $55/mo. for main regions
  • Stay connected anywhere with the new mobile internet plan
  • Get two lines for $72.50/mo per line and enjoy 40 GB of data (main regions)
  • Get the Pixel 6 Series for $0 down on approved credit
  • Get up to 3 months of Google One on us when you sign up through Rogers.
  • Sign up for Apple Music and get your first six months free on a Rogers Infinite plan
  • Save up to $650 on iPhone 12 when you trade in your iPhone XR, iPhone XS or iPhone 8
  • Promo on Talk text Unlimited Canada Wide minutes for $30 (was $35)
  • Get two lines for $60/mo per line for 30 GB of data max speed (QC)
  • Sign up for Disney+ through Rogers and get six months on select Rogers Infinite plans
  • $50 referral credit for both after they activate

Browse Rogers cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Save up to $350 on iPhone 13 with Bring-It-Back
  • Save $5 to $10 per month on selected plans
  • Comprehensive protection from $55 per month and up to a bonus $250 bill credit
  • Save up to $389 on Galaxy Z Flip3 5G with Bring-It-Back
  • Get up to $396 off Samsung Galaxy S21 5G with Bring-It-Back
  • Add Pik TV for only $10/mo with TELUS Internet. (BC &AB)
  • Get one month on us, plus a FREE $400 TELUS prepaid Visa (BC &AB)
  • Get a FREE 55″ Samsung 4K HDR Smart TV (BC &AB)
  • Telus PureFibre Gig Internet now with Wi‑Fi 6 – from $89/mo. (BC &AB)
  • Get a smart start to your year with three amazing services – from $105/mo. (BC & AB)
  • The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is here. Save up to $368 on the latest Samsung smartphone with Bring-It-Back
  • Bundle your services and get up to $40 off each month (QC)
  • Get up to $396 off Samsung Galaxy S21 5G with Bring-It-Back
  • Save up to $207 on Google Pixel 6 with Bring-It-Back
  • Protect your home with SmartHome Security and get up to $250 in bill credits (QC) and $300 in (ON)
  • Shop plans and save up to $720 per year with Telus Family Discount
  • Get three months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade with pre-owned certified iPhones.
  • Bundle a new Apple Watch with TELUS Health Companion from $54/month.

Ongoing deals:

  • Save the $50 connection fee when you shop online
  • Get 5GB of data for as low as $45 with a family of four in MB, SK, QC and for $55 in main regions
  • Join the TELUS Exclusive Partner Program and save more
  • Enjoy your ICI TOU.TV EXTRA subscription included with your TELUS plan
  • Get your TELUS 2022 calendar as a gift.
  • Get 25% off select Xiaomi devices.
  • Get 20GB of high-speed data for $70/mo in MB, SK, QC, and 80/mo in main regions.
  • Unlimited 40 includes exclusive access to unlimited international messaging and visual voicemail 25, and Unlimited 50 Can-US Includes exclusive access to Can-US roaming, unlimited international messaging and visual voicemail 25
  • Get up to 6 months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade when you buy any iPhone
  • Save big on the flashiest phones with Bring‑It‑Back
  • Get a bonus 500MB of data when you sign-up for Auto Top-up on $30, $40, $45 & $55 prepaid talk, text & data plans
  • Get bonus 100MB of data when you sign-up for Auto Top-up on a $25 prepaid talk & text plan
  • $50 referral credit for both after they activate a line with Telus. (all regions)

Browse Telus cell phone plan

Noticeable price changes:

Chat more with free international calling

New deals:

  • Great deals on certified pre-owned Samsung Galaxy A12, Google Pixel 4A and Apple iPhone XR
  • Free Public Mobile SIM Card included with each purchase of a Certified Pre-Owned phone.

Ongoing deas:

  • 2.5 GB Data at 3G speed +BONUS 500MB with AutoPay for $35/mo
  • Share more with a $30 Refer-a-Friend reward
  • Connect more with 2GB of free data
  • $1 Loyalty Pays every 30 days after the first years. $2 after the second year, and so on.
  • $20 Helping Other every 30 days by earning points in the Community
  • 500MB bonus with Autopay on all Talk, Text & Data plans except $15 plan, which comes with 250MB bonus (all regions)
  • $2 off every month with AutoPay Reward
  • Get referred, and you’ll receive a one-time $10 credit

Browse Public Mobile cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • 500MB bonus with Autopay on all Talk, Text & Data plans
  • 250MB bonus with Autopay on Talk & Text $15 Plan

Browse Chatr cell phone plans

New deals:

  • 6GB for $45/mo. Plus member benefits
  • Get four months of Youtube Premium with Samsung Galaxy S21 5G and Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G
  • Get two months of YouTube Premium with Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
  • Get iPhone 12 with value-packed plans plus Member Benefits.
  • Get the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G and bonus credit of $150 on top of your device’s trade-in value.

Ongoing deals:

  • Shop online and save $50
  • Unlimited Internet starting from $39/mo. Plus, get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card.
  • Hot phones starting from $0 down, 0% APR
  • Refer a Friend to get $50 in bill credits each when they join the Virgin Plus party.
  • Internet + TV from $70/mo. Plus get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card
  • New Prepaid plans from $22/mo. exclusively for Quebec
  • 250 MB Bonus Data on the $22, $24 and $29 Prepaid plan
  • Get a value-packed plan and Member Benefits when you bring your own phone.
  • 500MB Bonus Data on the $32, $35, $41, $46, $51 and $56 Prepaid plans
  • Bonus 500MB data with $31, $34, $37, $43, $48, $53 and $58 prepaid plans
  • Get the HeadRush IPX6 wireless, 40W, water-resistant speaker with a customizable light show
  • Crave is available as an add-on for TV for only $20/mo. hook up today and get two months free
  • Get TV starting from $25/mo.
  • Get a Google Chromecast when you hook up with TV on a 6-month term
  • 500MB Bonus Data on the $28 Prepaid plan with PPU OR 100MB Bonus Data on the $15 prepaid plan with PPU with AutoPay option
  • Get up to $700 off a hot new device when you trade in your old one.

Browse Virgin Mobile cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Get up to 20GB of Bonus Data when you sign up on select plans.
  • BYOD Big Gig Unlimited plans: get 15GB bonus data on $60 and $75/mo plan, 24GB bonus on the $80/mo plan and 20GB bonus on the $85 and $115/mo Canada/US plan.
  • Samsung Galaxy A12 is available for $40/mo. and Samsung Galaxy A52 5G for $50/mo.
  • Bring your own phone plan: Get a 5GB bonus with $35 plan, 10GB bonus with the $40 plan.
  • Get Google Pixel 6 for $22/mo. with 12GB fast LTE data.
  • Get an extra $150 in MyTab Bonus Savings when you trade in any phone and activate a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G on a 2-year term.
  • Get the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $20/mo with 25GB Fast LTE Data
  • Bring your own phone plan: Get a 15GB bonus with a $70 plan, a 20 GB bonus with an $80 plan and a 20 GB bonus on Canada/US $80 plan. 

Ongoing deals:

  • Get Talk, Text and 1.5GB of Fast LTE Data for only $19/mo. for 12 months
  • Get unlimited freedom home internet for $55/mo. Available in AB and BC
  • iPhone 13 20GB Fast LTE Data for $20/mo.
  • Moto One 5G Ace and iPhone SE are available for $40/mo.
  • $5/mo. digital discount on the $40, $45 and $50 plans and $10 digital discount on the $55, $80, $90 and $90 Canada/US Bring your own phone plans.
  • Add a line with 3 GB data for $20/mo.
  • 20 GB Fast LTE for $50/mo with digital discount
  • Unlimited talk & text starting at $99/year annual payment
  • Refer a friend and get a $25 service credit for each referral. Save up to $250 a year
  • Enjoy one free month of Visual Voicemail when you sign up in-store or online.

New deals:

  • Trade in for the new Galaxy S21 FE 5G and get a bonus of $310 on top of your trade-in value.
  • Get 15% off when you buy two or more regular-priced cases, screen protectors, and/or chargers.
  • Save an extra $20 per month when you bring your own device. Available to new customers.
  • Three great ways to save – Save $10 per month off your plan for 24 months or Save $200 on a new device or Get an extra 5 GB of data per month for 24 months.

Ongoing deals:

  • Get big savings on wireless plans, crazy fast internet speeds, and binge-worthy TV.
  • Save $20/mo. off any voice & data plan when you bring your own phone or buy a phone at a full price!
  • Big deals on maxTV Stream media boxes for a limited time.
  • Get up to $600 in-store credit toward a new wireless device and accessories when you trade in your old device.
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on a monthly plan and save 50% for three months + get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi for only $5/mo. for first three months
  • Sign up for maxTV stream & Internet to get big savings. Plus, get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for the first 12 months
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on a 2-year contract and get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for 12 months
  • Sign up for Crave with STARZ and get your first month free!
  • Switch to a 2-year Internet contract plan and save $10/mo. off the regular price
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on the infiNET 300 plan and get this special deal + get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for the first 12 months
  • Upgrade to the next fastest plan at no additional cost for one month
  • For every five maxTV Stream theme packs you add, you get $8 in savings
  • Sign up for Super Channel and get your first month free!
  • Sign up for maxTV and get 50% off the Filipino 5-pack for three months.
  • Get unlimited calling with our Anytime North America Long Distance plan—all for one low monthly price
  • Get our ten most popular calling features, including Call Display & Name Display, for just $10/mo. Add on Voice Mail for only $2/mo. more
  • Sign up for SaskTel homePHONE and get three months of Home Phone Service, Feature Package, and Anytime North America long distance for free
  • Sign up for Crave and get your first month free!
  • Get three months of Apple Fitness+ free when you buy an Apple Watch.
  • Sign up for noSTRINGS Prepaid Auto Top-ups and get a $20 bonus
  • Bring your Google Pixel and save $600

New deals:

  • Save $10/month when you add a line to your mobile service with Family Share
  • Get 30GB of Big Data for $60/mo.
  • Get the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G for $0 down + $150 trade-in bonus
  • Find a deal with the Trade-Up program and trade in your device from any carrier for an immediate store credit towards a new phone.
  • Bring Your Own Device and get a great Worry-Free Data plan.
  • Upgrade Earlier With easyUp

Ongoing deals:

  • Get 12GB of rollover data for $50/mo.
  • Get up to $200 when you Switch
  • Get the Smartphone you Want for $0 Down with easyTab
  • Get your first three months FREE on any Smart Home & Security plan
  • Save $59.95 when you DIY and save the installation fee
  • Add Mobile to your Bundle and save $15/month forever 

Browse Eastlink cell phone plans 

Ongoing deals:

  • You will each receive a $50 referral bonus on their two-month anniversary with Fizz
  • Get 30 GB with any phone purchase.
  • Any unused mobile data will be rolled over to the next month.
  • Various phone discounts on select smartphones with Full Retail Price

Browse Fizz cell phone plans 

New deals:

  • Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G – Level up your everyday with $150 off  your MyTab when you trade in any phone.

Ongoing deals:

  • Fibre+ Gig & Total TV
  • Fibre+ 300 & Total TV
  • Fibre+ Gig & Mobile Unlimited
  • Fibre+ 25 & Limited TV
  • Fibre+ 300 & Mobile By The Gig
  • Fibre+ 300, Total TV & Mobile By The Gig
  • Rollover Data any time for just $10/GB and carry over unused data for up to 90 days
  • Get Unlimited Mobile with 25GB Fast LTE for only $25/mo when paired with a Fibre+ Gig 1.5 Internet plan
  • Fibre+ Gig, Total TV & Mobile Unlimited
  • Fibre+ 25, Limited TV & Mobile by the Gig
  • Fibre+ 25 & Mobile by the Gig 

Browse Shaw cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • Get an additional 5 percent of the value of every Top-Up in points when you sign up for Auto-Allowance or Allowance with your PC Financial Mastercard or PC Money
  • 20,000 PC Optimum points after two months of service
  • Get 1GB of bonus data every month when you sign up for an Automatic Top-Up option, eligible on plans that have data.

Browse cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • $25 account bonus + free sim with $50 top-up
  • MaxWest Nitro 5C phone with $74.99 and $50 top-up voucher + FREE SIM
  • Bonus 1 GB data for three months new activations only.
  • Data plans start at $35 for 2GB

Browse cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • 250MB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $15, 1GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $25, 3GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $35, 5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $40, 10.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $50, 15.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $60 ( main regions)
  • Bring your own phone or buy one starting at $75
  • Get a cheap phone plan from $15/mo.
  • 500MB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $24, 3.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $33, 11.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $43 plans for QC

Browse cell phone plans

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Telus health launches new virtual pharmacy program

The health initiative of telecommunications company Telus is introducing new changes to better deliver pharmacy services.

Telus Health has launched a virtual pharmacy, allowing Canadians to set up reminders to have prescriptions refilled and shipped directly to their door.

Users will also be allowed to have unlimited video and phone consultations with licensed pharmacists and will be able to manage medications through an online dashboard.

The service is introduced during a time when medication non-adherence is on the rise. This is when patients don’t take their medications as directed. A survey conducted for Telus Health found a third of Canadians were unable to pick up their prescription on time last year. A majority of respondents said the task slipped their minds when asked to explain their reasoning.

“As people’s lives continue to get busier, we need to focus on providing simple and convenient solutions that allow people to better manage their health and the health of their families,” Sonya Lockyer, vice president of pharmacy at Telus Health, said in a statement. “Not following medication instructions can negatively affect a patient’s health and costs our health care systems billions of dollars in unnecessary acute care interventions.”

The service is available in English in all provinces besides Quebec. A French version will be released in the “coming months.”

The app is available on iOS and Android.

Image source: Telus Health/Facebook 

Source: Telus Health

Categories
Mobile Syrup

December round-up: network expansions around Canada

5G cellular repeaters on the pole

Telecom providers make infrastructure announcements every month, promising to improve wireless and broadband services across the country.

To help you keep track of these announcements, and check for possible improvements in your community, here’s an outline of all infrastructure announcements made in December 2021.

Telus

December 2nd: Telus brings 5G to Camrose, Alberta

SaskTel

December 6th: SaskTel expands its fibre optic network infiNet to 24 communities in Saskatchewan, including Carrot Lake, Foam Lake, and Osler

December 15th: The company introduces 5G in parts of Regina

Nokia

December 8th: The company teams up with Rally to improve connectivity in residential neighbourhoods 

Rogers

December 15th: Rogers constructs cell tower along Highway of Tears to expand cell services

December 16th: Rogers expands its fibre-powered network to Humber Village, Little Rapids, and Bell Island in Newfoundland and Labrador

Government bodies

December 7th: Government of Ontario builds new infrastructure network to bring high-speed internet across Essex County 

December 9th: Government of Manitoba partners with Xplornet to improve 5G access in communities across the province 

December 17th: The federal government and Province of Alberta enter partnership to fund projects that advance high-speed internet in the province 

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

December 16th: The government watchdog provides $8.8 million towards four projects that will improve internet access in Alberta and Nova Scotia  

Image credit: ShutterStock

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here are the changes to Canadian mobile rate plans this week [January 06 – January 12]

With over 13 wireless carriers in Canada, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest promotions and cell phone rate plan changes. 

MobileSyrup will compile the latest weekly rate plan deals every week. You can also check out our guide on plans across Canada to find the right plan for you.  You can compare from 47,842 options and 13 carriers in Canada to find the best option.

It’s worth noting that rate plans are always subject to change and that we’ll do our best to keep this list updated as accurately as possible.

Canadian carrier rate plan changes this week

New deals:

  • Save up to $150 on your order when you shop online in QC and $50 in other regions.
  • $50 Promo plan with 10 GB of non-shareable data. For new activations only. (QC)
  • Unlimited Share 100 plan is $15/mo. cheaper and Unlimited 40 is $10/mo cheaper in MB, QC & SK compared to main regions.
  • Enjoy 25 GB at max speeds for $65/mo. on Québec’s best network.
  • Get 20GB of data for only $50/month on Canada’s best network.

Ongoing deals:

  • Trade-in your device and get a minimum $100 towards a new one.
  • Save up to 65 percent on select devices.
  • Save 20 percent on a Samsung Galaxy Watch4 with Bell SmartPay
  • Exclusive city offer – Save $10/mo. off any Unlimited plan on Canada’s best network. (BC only)
  • Connect your other devices and enjoy unlimited data from $10/mo.
  • Great gifts under $50
  • Get unlimited data with no overage fees, parental controls and one bill for your family, all for just $45/mo. in QC, MB, SK and $55/mo in main regions.
  • Pair Bell mobility with your Bell service and get 20GB of data for just $50/mo. in QC and for $65/mo. in ON.
  • Popular accessories for this holiday season
  • Save $25/month for every team member you add to your account.
  • Get three lines with unlimited data and no overages for an average of $55/month.
  • Get three months of Apple Fitness+
  • Switch your business to Canada’s best 5G network and get a credit of $200 per line.
  • Get bonus 100MB data/mo with unlimited Canada-wide minutes for $25/mo with automatic monthly top-up options.
  • Get bonus 100MB data/mo with unlimited Canada-wide minutes for $25/mo with automatic monthly top-up options.
  • Trade in your old device and save
  • Get six months of Crave Total on us with new smartphones on Bell SmartPay
  • Get our unlimited talk and text plan for just $30/mo.
  • Save $15/mo. for every family member you add to your account.
  • Various monthly phone credits on select smartphones with SmartPay or SmartPay + Device Return Option
  • Get up to 500 MB bonus data/mo. when you sign up for Automatic Monthly or Automatic Monthly/Low Balance Top-Up option on eligible plans.
  • Save $40 on the intelliARMOR UV Shield+ portable sanitize
  •  

Browse Bell cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Save up to $35 per month for 12 months on unlimited Home Internet 75u or 150u when you pair with a Mobile plan. (ON)
  • Trade-in select devices and get a minimum credit of $100
  • For a limited time, get any amazing Samsung phone at $0 down with Fido Payment Program.
  • Don’t wait. iPhone 12 mini for $0 down!
  • Each month, all year long, 10 Fido customers will win 1 YEAR of FREE Fido service.
  • This week’s Fido XTRA: A holly jolly contest!
  • Get Extra $5 Credit Per Month on ZTE Grand X View 4

Ongoing deals:

  • Get 12GB of data for only $45/mo. Available for a limited time only
  • Various smartphones on deals
  • Apple iPad 7 for $0 down.
  • Accessories you want for $0 down
  • Get a Samsung Galaxy device and get up to 4 months of YouTube Premium
  • One Month Free Service when you invite your friends and they join Fido.

Browse Fido cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Get 100 GB bonus per year with an all-Inclusive 20GB, 25GB plan as well as 15 GB Canada – US without border plan and a free Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite with the 20GB plan
  • Boxing Day sale on iPhone 11, 12 and 13
  • Get a discount on selected devices when subscribing to certain 24-month plans, not to mention a welcome credit.
  • Save $24/month on 400 Internet and enjoy the best Wi-Fi technology in Québec
  • Save $52/month on 60 Internet with 39 TV channels.

Ongoing deals:

  • Vrai and Club Illico are offered for six months with any subscription to a Helix Internet and TV or Helix TV App Plan.
  • Save up to $720/year with multiline plans
  • Take advantage of monthly discount with multiline $10 to $15 per line each month (depends on the number of lines)
  • For a limited time, Vrai is offered for six months when you add it to your mobile plan
  • HUAWEI FreeBuds 3 and the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2 on sale now
  • Take advantage of all the benefits of Helix internet, starting from $50/mo.
  • Get a discount and save up to $15 per plan every month if you team up by four
  • Get extra 100GB data per year, always at full speed
  • Helix unlimited 400 internet at $70/mo
  • Get 10 GB bonus data per year in Canada with Basic 4GB, 10GB Canada plan & $10 GB Canada-Us plan
  • Subscribe to the QUB musique Family plan at the exclusive rate of $9.99/month for 24 months
  • Up to $500 trade-in credit on any smartphone purchase
  • Club illico mobile included on All-Inclusive Mobile plans

Browse Videotron cell phone plan

New deals:

  • Get six months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade when you get an iPhone 11, SE, 12 Pro, 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro Max
  • Get three months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade with pre-owned certified iPhone XR
  • Get the Moto G Power for $6/ month with the Tab. That’s $171 in savings.
  • Get the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for $20/month with the Tab. That’s $860 in savings
  • Get 12 GB of data for only $45/month

Ongoing deals:

  • Prepaid SIM cards are now $10 for a limited time
  • $25 referral credit for both when referring a friend after they join on a postpaid plan.
  • Bonus 500 MB data per month with Automatic Top-Up on the $30, $40, $45 and $55 both Canada-wide and Province-wide calling plans (all regions)
  • Shop online and save the $50 connection fee 

Browse Koodo cell phone plans 

New deals:

  • Promo on the 40GB $75 plan and 60GB $85 plan with six months of free Apple Music and Disney+ , Purchase a tablet or Apple Watch on financing and get it free for 24 months (MB/SK/QC)
  • Promo on Unlimited data of 20GB + 6 months of free Apple Music for $80/mo (main regions)
  • For a limited time only, get data plans starting from $40/mo for 3GB of non-shareable data with any phone on financing or when you bring your own phone.
  • Get the iPhone 13 128GB for only $25/mo for 24 months with financing and Upfront Edge when you return your device within two years
  • Get iPhone 13 Pro 128 GB for $0 down on approved credit, 0 percent interest and pay only $9.33/mo for 24 months when you trade in an iPhone 11
  • Get iPhone 13 128 GB for $0 down on approved credit, 0 percent interest and pay only $10/mo for 24 months when you trade in an iPhone 11.
  • Activate or upgrade to a $90/mo or higher Rogers Infinite plan and get six months of Disney+ on us and the choice between a free tablet or Apple Watch plan for 24 months when you get a tablet or Apple Watch with financing (main regions)
  • Promo on Unlimited data 40GB for $90/mo & 60GB for $95/mo with six months of free Apple Music and Disney+ , Purchase a tablet or Apple Watch on financing and get it free for 24 months (main regions)
  • Get iPhone 12 mini 128GB for $15/mo for 24 months with financing and select plans with Upfront Edge
  • Promo on Infinite Plan 25GB + 6 months of Apple Music for $65/mo. MB/SK/QC)

Ongoing deals:

  • Add a family member to your Rogers Infinite plan starting at $45/mo. after a $15/mo discount for MB, SK, QC and $55/mo. for main regions
  • Stay connected anywhere with the new mobile internet plan
  • Get two lines for $72.50/mo per line and enjoy 40 GB of data (main regions)
  • Activate or upgrade on a $75/mo or higher Rogers Infinite plan and get our most premium perks (QC)
  • Get the Pixel 6 Series for $0 down on approved credit
  • Get up to 3 months of Google One on us when you sign up through Rogers.
  • Sign up for Apple Music and get your first six months free on a Rogers Infinite plan
  • Save up to $650 on iPhone 12 when you trade in your iPhone XR, iPhone XS or iPhone 8
  • Promo on Talk text Unlimited Canada Wide minutes for $30 (was $35)
  • Get two lines for $60/mo per line for 30 GB of data max speed (QC)
  • Sign up for Disney+ through Rogers and get six months on select Rogers Infinite plans
  • $50 referral credit for both after they activate

Browse Rogers cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Save the $50 connection fee when you shop online
  • Save up to $415 on iPhone 13 with Bring-It-Back
  • Get 5GB of data for as low as $45 with a family of four in MB, SK, QC and for $55 in main regions
  • Save on the first six months on your All-in-One Protection (QC) and $10 per month with the ultimate online protection in other regions.
  • Join the TELUS Exclusive Partner Program and save more
  • Enjoy your ICI TOU.TV EXTRA subscription included with your TELUS plan
  • Get your TELUS 2022 calendar as a gift.
  • Get 25 percent off select Xiaomi devices.
  • Up to $350 in gifts on our home services and mobile plans
  • Comprehensive protection from $55 per month and up to a bonus $350 bill credit
  • Save up to $958 on Galaxy Z Flip3 5G with Bring-It-Back.
  • Get 20GB of high-speed data for $70/mo in MB, SK, QC, and 80/mo in main regions.
  • Unlimited 40 includes exclusive access to unlimited international messaging and visual voicemail 25, and Unlimited 50 Can-US Includes exclusive access to Can-US roaming, unlimited international messaging and visual voicemail 25

Ongoing deals:

  • Get Google Pixel 6 for as low as $15 per month with Bring-It-Back
  • Get Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for as low as $12 per month with Bring-it-Back
  • Protect your home with SmartHome Security and get up to a $350 bill credit
  • Get up to 6 months of Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade when you buy any iPhone
  • Save big on the flashiest phones with Bring‑It‑Back
  • Get a bonus 500MB of data when you sign-up for Auto Top-up on $30, $40, $45 & $55 prepaid talk, text & data plans
  • Bundle a new Apple Watch with TELUS Health Companion from $49/month.
  • Get bonus 100MB of data when you sign-up for Auto Top-up on a $25 prepaid talk & text plan
  • $50 referral credit for both after they activate a line with Telus. (all regions)

Browse Telus cell phone plan

Noticeable price changes:

Chat more with free international calling

New deals:

  • 2.5 GB Data at 3G speed +BONUS 500MB with AutoPay for $35/mo

Ongoing deas:

  • Share more with a $30 Refer-a-Friend reward
  • Connect more with 2GB of free data
  • $1 Loyalty Pays every 30 days after the first years. $2 after the second year, and so on.
  • $20 Helping Other every 30 days by earning points in the Community
  • 500MB bonus with Autopay on all Talk, Text & Data plans except $15 plan which comes with 250MB bonus (all regions)
  • $2 off every month with AutoPay Reward
  • Get referred and you’ll receive a one-time $10 credit

Browse Public Mobile cell phone plans

New deals:

  • 500MB bonus with Autopay on all Talk, Text & Data plans

Ongoing deals:

  • 250MB bonus with Autopay on Talk & Text $15 Plan

Browse Chatr cell phone plans

New deals:

  • Shop online and save $50
  • Limited time offer – 12GB for $45/month & 20GB for $50/month
  • Get iPhone 12 with value-packed plans plus Member Benefits.
  • Deals on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

Ongoing deals:

  • Gift yourself unlimited internet and value-packed phone plans
  • Get Samsung Galaxy S21 5G for $0 down, 0 percent APR and only $20/mo. for 24 months with Sweet Pay
  • Unlimited Internet starting from $39/mo. Plus, get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card.
  • Hot phones starting from $0 down, 0 percent APR
  • Refer a Friend to get $50 in bill credits each when they join the Virgin Plus party.
  • Internet + TV from $70/mo. Plus get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card
  • New Prepaid plans from $22/mo. exclusively for Quebec
  • 250 MB Bonus Data on the $22, $24 and $29 Prepaid plan
  • Get a value-packed plan and Member Benefits when you bring your own phone.
  • 500MB Bonus Data on the $32, $35, $41, $46, $51 and $56 Prepaid plans
  • Get a $100 Visa Prepaid Card when you add unlimited Internet and TV.
  • Bonus 500MB data with $31, $34, $37, $43, $48, $53 and $58 prepaid plans
  • Get the HeadRush IPX6 wireless, 40W, water-resistant speaker with a customizable light show
  • Crave is available as an add-on for TV for only $20/mo. hook up today and get two months free
  • Get TV starting from $25/mo.
  • get a Google Chromecast when you hook up with TV on a 6-month term
  • 500MB Bonus Data on the $28 Prepaid plan with PPU OR 100MB Bonus Data on the $15 prepaid plan with PPU with AutoPay option
  • Get up to $700 off a hot new device when you trade in your old one.

Browse Virgin Mobile cell phone plans

New deals:

  • BYOD Big Gig Unlimited plans: get 15GB bonus data on $55/mo plan, 20GB on the $70/mo plan $ 24GB on the $75/mo plan.
  • Get Talk, Text and 1.5GB of Fast LTE Data for only $19/mo. for 12 months
  • BYOD Big Gig Unlimited plans: get 20GB bonus data on both $80/mo and $110/mo Canada/US plans
  • Get unlimited freedom home internet for $55/mo. Available in AB and BC
  • Samsung Galaxy A12 is available for $35/mo. Samsung Galaxy A52 5G for $45/mo. and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G for $68/mo $ Galaxy S21 5G for $60/mo.
  • iPhone 13 20GB Fast LTE Data for $20/mo.
  • Get Google Pixel 6 for $13/mo. with 20 GB fast LTE data.

Ongoing deals:

  • Bring your own phone plan: Get a 20 GB bonus with a $70 plan, a 20 GB bonus with an $80 plan and a 20 GB bonus on Canada/US $80 plan.
  • Spoil your phone with 70 percent off select Samsung accessories.
  • Moto One 5G Ace and iPhone SE are available for $40/mo.
  • $5/mo. digital discount on the $40, $45 and $50 plans and $10 digital discount on the $55, $80, $90 and $90 Canada/US Bring your own phone plans.
  • Bring your own phone plan: Get 4GB bonus with a $35 plan, 10GB bonus with the $40 plan
  • Add a line with 3 GB data for $20/mo.
  • 20 GB Fast LTE for $50/mo with digital discount
  • Get up to 20GB of Bonus Data when you sign up on select plans.
  • Unlimited talk & text starting at $99/year annual payment
  • Refer a friend and get a $25 service credit for each referral. Save up to $250 a year
  • Get one month of Visual Voicemail for Free

New deals:

  • Get big savings on wireless plans, crazy fast internet speeds, and binge-worthy TV.
  • Save $20/mo. off any voice & data plan when you bring your own phone or buy a phone at a full price!

Ongoing deals:

  • Big deals on maxTV Stream media boxes for a limited time.
  • Get up to $600 in-store credit toward a new wireless device and accessories when you trade in your old device.
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on a monthly plan and save 50 percent for three months + get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi for only $5/mo. for first three months
  • Sign up for maxTV stream & Internet to get big savings. Plus, get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for the first 12 months
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on a 2-year contract and get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for 12 months
  • Sign up for Crave with STARZ and get your first month free!
  • Switch to a 2-year Internet contract plan and save $10/mo. off the regular price
  • Sign up for SaskTel Internet on the infiNET 300 plan and get this special deal + get Optimum In-home Wi-Fi free for the first 12 months
  • Upgrade to the next fastest plan at no additional cost for one month
  • For every five maxTV Stream theme packs you add, you get $8 in savings
  • Sign up for Super Channel and get your first month free!
  • Sign up for maxTV and get 50 percent off the Filipino 5-pack for three months.
  • Skip the activation and service fees on eligible online device purchases
  • Get unlimited calling with our Anytime North America Long Distance plan—all for one low monthly price
  • Get our ten most popular calling features, including Call Display & Name Display, for just $10/mo. Add on Voice Mail for only $2/mo. more
  • Sign up for SaskTel homePHONE and get three months of Home Phone Service, Feature Package, and Anytime North America long distance for free
  • Sign up for Crave and get your first month free!
  • Get three months of Apple Fitness+ free when you buy an Apple Watch.
  • Sign up for noSTRINGS Prepaid Auto Top-ups and get a $20 bonus
  • Bring your Google Pixel and save $600
  • Sign up for a noSTRINGS Prepaid Talk, Text & Data or Unlimited plan and save $10/mo. for eight months.

Ongoing deals:

  • Get 40GB of Big Data for $60/mo.
  • Get 12GB of rollover data for $50/mo.
  • For a limited time, save up to $672 on the hottest devices.
  • Get up to $200 when you Switch
  • Get the Smartphone you Want for $0 Down with easyTab
  • Get your first 3 months FREE on any Smart Home & Security plan
  • Save $59.95 when you DIY and save the installation fee
  • Add Mobile to your Bundle and save $15/month forever
  • Save $5/month when you add a line to your mobile service with Family Share

Browse Eastlink cell phone plans 

Ongoing deals:

  • You will each receive a $50 referral bonus on their two-month anniversary with Fizz
  • Get 30 GB with any phone purchase.
  • Any unused mobile data will be rolled over to the next month.
  • Various phone discounts on select smartphones with Full Retail Price

Browse Fizz cell phone plans 

Ongoing deals:

  • Fibre+ Gig & Total TV
  • Fibre+ 300 & Total TV
  • Fibre+ Gig & Mobile Unlimited
  • Fibre+ 25 & Limited TV
  • Fibre+ 300 & Mobile By The Gig
  • Fibre+ 300, Total TV & Mobile By The Gig
  • Rollover Data any time for just $10/GB and carry over unused data for up to 90 days
  • Get Unlimited Mobile with 25GB Fast LTE for only $25/mo when paired with a Fibre+ Gig 1.5 Internet plan
  • Fibre+ Gig, Total TV & Mobile Unlimited
  • Fibre+ 25, Limited TV & Mobile by the Gig
  • Fibre+ 25 & Mobile by the Gig 

Browse Shaw cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • Get an additional 5 percent of the value of every Top-Up in points when you sign up for Auto-Allowance or Allowance with your PC Financial Mastercard or PC Money
  • 20,000 PC Optimum points after two months of service
  • Get 1GB of bonus data every month when you sign up for an Automatic Top-Up option, eligible on plans that have data.

Browse cell phone plans

New deals:

  • $25 account bonus + free sim with $50 top up
  • MaxWest Nitro 5C phone with $74.99 and $50 top up voucher + FREE SIM

Ongoing deals:

  • Bonus 1 GB data for three months new activations only.
  • Data Plans start at $35 for 2GB

Browse cell phone plans

Ongoing deals:

  • 250MB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $15, 1GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $25, 3GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $35, 5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $40, 10.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $50, 15.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $60 ( main regions)
  • Bring your own phone or buy one starting at $75
  • Get a cheap phone plan from $15/mo.
  • 500MB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $24, 3.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $33, 11.5GB bonus with Automatic Top-Up on $43 plans for QC

Browse cell phone plans

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Here are the most important Canadian telecom stories of 2021

Aerial view of mobiel phone cell tower over forested rural area of West Virginia to illustrate lack of broadband internet service

2021 was a busy year for the Canadian telecommunications industry.

From new deals to expansions, to a sense of uncertainty for the future, a lot happened. Here’s MobileSyrup’s list of the most important telecom stories this year.

The Rogers-Shaw merger

The merger takes the first spot on this list because of all the controversy surrounding it. While the deal is yet to be approved by various government bodies, the chatter surrounding the merger has stayed strong ever since Rogers proposed acquiring Shaw.

Competing telecom companies were quick to raise concerns. This was put on the record at a week-long hearing with the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in late November.

Bell, which also tried to purchase Shaw but was outbid, argued the deal wasn’t the best for Canadians. Smaller broadcast corporations focusing on local broadcasts raised concerns about what the merger would mean for them. The hearing also featured organizations that were in favour of the new deal.

This hearing, which exclusively focused on the broadcast aspect of the deal, is the only insight Canadians had on the merger. Telephone, wireless, and internet services are other important aspects of the deal, but discussion on them won’t be open to the public. These matters will be dealt with by the Competition Bureau and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, away from the public eye.

It also remains unclear what will happen with Freedom Mobile, which is currently under Shaw’s ownership. If regulators force Rogers to sell the mobile business, Anthony Lacavera wants to buy it back. Lacavera founded Wind Mobile and sold it to Shaw in 2016 for $1.6 billion. The company was renamed Freedom Mobile in 2016.

Image credit: CRTC (screenshot)

Rogers family drama

Ted Rogers left an empire for his children to build on. But his kids, all of whom work with the company in some form, had different ideas on how to continue their father’s legacy. On one side was Edward Rogers, who tried to oust former CEO, Joe Natale and replace him with chief financial officer, Tony Staffieri. On the other were his two sisters, Martha Rogers and Melinda Rogers-Hixon. They opposed the plan and thought Natale was a fitting CEO. Edward Rodger’s original move to remove Natale, and a number of directors from the board, failed. In response, he was ousted as the board chair but remained on as a director.

At the time it appeared like two boards were operating on behalf of the company. In the end, Edward Rogers got his way when a judge ruled his actions were valid. It remains unclear whether the drama will impact the Rogers-Shaw merger.

5G expansion 

2021 also marked the year 5G began to be widely implemented in Canada. The fifth-generation wireless technology that fuels cellular networks was quick to come to major cities, and a number of providers worked on bringing it to smaller communities as well. 

Telus made expansions to several communities in British Columbia, Alberta. Rogers completed its core rollout of the network in late October, offering service to Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver. Rogers also made expansions in Nova Scotia and Quebec. SaskTel deployed its network in Saskatchewan.

Xplornet launched the first rural 5G standalone network in the country. It also entered a partnership with the Manitoba government to bring access to a number of communities in the province.

While the expansion is a step in the right direction, it hasn’t resulted in significantly faster internet speeds, given that current technology is based on 4G networks. Most 5G benefits won’t be felt until carriers launch 3,500MHz spectrum. This is considered crucial for the success of 5G in Canada as networks using it will offer faster speeds and lower latency compared to the 4G network.

3,500Mhz auction

In order to give telecom companies access to 3,500MHz spectrum, the government auctioned licenses between July 15th and July 23rd. Canadian telecom giants will be able to use 3,500MHz spectrum to start building out mid-band (a.k.a. Sub-6) 5G networks.

A total of $8.91 billion was collected from the sale of 1,495 licenses to 15 companies. Rogers, Bell, Telus, and Vidéotron bet the most, making up $8 billion in sales. Licenses dictate how much service companies must provide.

“The 3,500MHz auction is a key step in our government’s plan to promote competition in the telecom sector, improve rural connectivity, and ensure Canadians benefit from 5G technologies and services,” said François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, at the time.

Image credit: SaskTel

Huawei’s future in Canada

We still don’t know the state of Huawei’s future in Canada as government officials decide whether to ban Huawei technology from the country’s 5G network.

Concerns arose when a leaked government report claimed there was an increase in cyberattacks through Huawei devices. This was following Canada’s detainment of company executive, Meng Wanzhou, in Vancouver back in 2018 over fraud charges in the U.S. Wanzhou was recently released.

Canada is part of the “Five Eyes,” an intelligence alliance with Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. Each of these countries has levelled its own sanctions against Huawei’s 5G devices.

Reports have indicated telecom companies, including Bell and Telus, have requested the Liberal government fund the removal of Huawei equipment from their networks if a ban is approved. Global News has reported telecom companies spent more than $700 million installing the required equipment. 

Efforts to block spam calls

Few things are more annoying than spam calls. So when the CRTC ordered carriers to implement STIR/SHAKEN technology, tools that would help block these calls, the news was positively received. 

Secure Telephony Information Revisited (STIR) helps providers validate calls. When a call is made from the originating carrier, a digital signature is created outlining who the caller is. The provider of the person receiving this call verifies the signature. 

Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using TOKENs (SHAKEN) is the framework used by carriers when STIR information is missing or incorrect. 

After being delayed, the final deadline for implementing the technology was November 30th. But the deadline has come and gone, and some carriers need more time to implement the technology.

Bell Canada also made its own efforts to permanently block fraudulent calls through its own network after receiving final approval from the CRTC in December. The watchdog reported 1.1 billion calls were blocked by the network between July 2020 and October 2021.

Despite these stories being the most important of the year, they aren’t ending in 2021. Discussions around these topics are happening every day and MobileSyrup will have you covered with all the latest developments in 2022.

Header image credit: Shutterstock