Search

Low-cost and occasional-use wireless service plans

The CRTC wants Canadians to have better access to affordable wireless services for their cell phones and other mobile devices.

We are therefore expecting Bell, Rogers, Telus and SaskTel to offer and promote low-cost and occasional-use plans. These providers are expected to offer the following by July 14, 2021.

Low-cost plans

Maximum $35/month

  • Unlimited Canada-wide incoming and outgoing calls
  • Unlimited text messages (SMS)
  • The ability to send and receive photos, videos and other media files (MMS)
  • At least 3 GB of data
  • Bring your own device

Postpaid occasional-use plans

Maximum $15/month

  • At least 100 “anytime” minutes for outgoing Canada-wide calls
  • Unlimited incoming calls
  • Unlimited incoming and outgoing text messages (SMS)
  • 250 MB of data
  • No data overage fees (no charges for going over the data included with the plan)
  • Bring your own device

Prepaid occasional-use plans

Maximum $100/year

  • The rate plan and add-ons, if any, must remain in effect for at least 365 days.
  • At least 400 “anytime” local minutes. The cost for extra minutes above the limit cannot go over $0.15 per minute.
  • At least 400 incoming or outgoing text messages (SMS). The cost per text message above the limit cannot be more than $0.50 per text.
  • Long-distance fees cannot be over $0.50 per minute for calls within Canada (incoming and outgoing), and outgoing calls to the continental US.
  • These plans do not include data.
  • Bring your own device

Other information about the plans

Low-cost and occasional-use plans may be offered as part of a bundle. However, they must also be offered on their own, with no conditions that limit access. These plans must not be linked or tied in any way to other services offered by the provider.

Extra costs may apply. These may include taxes, a connection charge, long distance fees, costs for additional minutes, pay-per-use charges, and payments for subsidized devices.

Promotion of plans

Providers must promote their plans prominently on their websites and in their stores and kiosks. Their customer service representatives must also promote these plans.

We encourage you to contact your service provider. They will have more information on what low-cost and occasional-use plans are available to you. We also encourage you to shop around for a different plan or different provider if you are not satisfied with their current offers.

Ensuring transparency and accountability

The CRTC is requiring Bell, Rogers, Telus and SaskTel to submit twice-yearly reports on their offers and their promotion activities. This will allow us to monitor whether they are meeting the CRTC’s requirements.

Related links

Date modified: