TELUS Wants to Lock Phones for 60 Days: Would It Really Reduce Theft?
TELUS is asking the CRTC for permission to temporarily lock newly financed or subsidized phones to its network. The company argues that a 60-day locking period could reduce fraud, device theft and the rapid resale of expensive smartphones overseas. The proposal may help address certain types of fraud, but it could also create new complications […]
CRTC asks Bell, Telus and Rogers to justify new fees after activation fee ban
Canada’s ban on activation and plan-change fees came into effect on June 12, 2026. Now, the CRTC has opened a formal proceeding asking Bell, Telus and Rogers to explain why some new or existing fees should not be considered prohibited. The CRTC is taking a closer look at new telecom fees introduced or maintained by […]
CRTC killed the $80 activation fee. A new generation of $15 and $40 device charges is already taking its place.
Rogers and Fido have introduced a new $40 Device Setup Charge only days after Canada’s ban on wireless activation and plan-change fees came into effect. The charge applies when customers purchase or upgrade a phone with assistance from a specialist, including transactions completed in a store, over the phone or through live chat. Customers who […]
CRTC, Bell and Quebecor: Why Mobile Competition in Canada Still Moves Slowly
The CRTC has rejected Quebecor’s request in its dispute with Bell over MVNO access, a framework designed to help regional providers expand their mobile services by using the networks of larger carriers. Quebecor wanted the CRTC to retroactively recognize October 11, 2023, as the start date of its MVNO access to Bell’s network. The company […]
The CRTC Is Changing Canada’s Telecom Rules: Why Comparing Plans Is Becoming the New Normal
For years, changing an Internet or mobile plan in Canada often felt harder than it needed to be. Customers had to call, wait, negotiate, dodge extra fees, track the end of promotions, and hope the new offer was actually better than the old one. Now, the CRTC is clearly trying to change that. Over the […]