Communications Monitoring Report 2019

Link directly to 2018 Communications Services Pricing in Canada 2018 Communications Services Pricing in Canada

Link directly to On this page On this page

1. Highlights
   • Prices by type of service
   • Prices by province/territory
   • Urban versus rural comparison
2. Television distribution services
   • Urban centres
   • Rural communities versus urban centres
3. Local wireline telephone services
   • Urban centres
   • Rural communities versus urban centres
4. Internet services
   • Urban centres
   • Rural communities versus urban centres
5. Mobile services
   • Urban centres
   • Rural communities versus urban centres
6. Methodology
   • Basic television
   • Basic wireline phone service
   • Internet services
   • Mobile services
   • Prices
   • Average reported prices
   • Highest and lowest reported prices
   • Variance
   • Urban Centres and Rural Communities

Link directly to i. Highlights i. Highlights

Long description

	2016	2017	2018	Growth (%) 2016-2018
Basic television service	$27.64	$28.06	$25.55	-8%
Basic wireline telephone service	$31.53	$32.25	$34.07	8%
25/3 Internet service	$77.86	$78.49	$80.31	3%
Mobile telephone service with unlimited voice, SMS and 5 GB of data	$78.36	$70.06	$51.05	-35%
Total	$215.39	$208.86	$190.98	-11%

Source: CRTC data collection

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (hereafter, the Commission) collects prices annually from Canadian service providers for residential communications services. This report presents the reported monthly prices (hereafter, prices) for each of basic television^{Footnote 1}, basic wireline telephone^{Footnote 2}, Internet (3 levels of service) and mobile (4 levels of service) services for 24 urban centres and 54 rural communities, from all provinces and territories across Canada, as of December 31, 2018^{Footnote 3}.

Based on the prices of basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (25/3)^{Footnote 4} and mobile (unlimited voice & SMS and 5GB of data) ^{Footnote 5}, the nationwide monthly reported average price for the four services combined (hereafter, combined price) in 2018 was an average of $191 or 11%, lower than in 2016.

The decrease in combined prices is attributable to lower prices for mobile services (specifically, plans that include unlimited voice and SMS, and 5 GB of data) across Canada, and to a lesser degree lower basic television service prices in most areas.

In 2018, Internet and mobile services accounted for almost 70% of the combined price, with each service offering a number of plans with varying price trends over the 2016–2018 period. These services are explored in more detail below. Subsequent subsections will examine provincial/territorial as well as urban/rural prices and trends.

Link directly to Prices by type of service Prices by type of service

Average monthly prices for Internet services: 2016-2018

From 2016 to 2018, prices for Internet services generally declined, although they evolved at different rates depending on the speed of the service.

Prices for 5/1 and 50/10 internet services decreased by 5% and 3% respectively from 2016 to 2018. At the same time, subscribers were moving towards faster packages and internet service offerings were moving to higher speeds and higher data limits. In 2017, for example, almost 40% of high-speed residential Internet service subscriptions were for download speeds of 50+ Mbps, compared to 26% in 2016.

In contrast to the average price of 5/1 and 50/10 internet services, the average price for 25/3 internet service increased by 3% over the 2016-2018 period.

Average monthly prices for mobile services: 2016-2018

Against a backdrop of higher data usage (the average mobile data subscriber used over 2 GB of data per month in 2017, a 30% increase from 2016) and significant smartphone penetration (87% in 2017), prices for mobile services have declined over the 2016-2018 period. Decreases were most pronounced for service offerings including 2GB of data or more.

2018 prices for mobile services offering 150 to 450 minutes of voice service and up to 1GB of data decreased by approximately 22% when compared to 2016, while prices for mobile services offering 2GB of data or more decreased by approximately 32% compared to 2016.

Link directly to Prices by province/territory Prices by province/territory

While the national price for combined communications services decreased on average by 11% when compared to 2016, there were regional differences.

The graph below focuses on basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (25/3), and mobile (unlimited voice & SMS and 5GB of data) services to highlight provincial/territorial pricing differences.

Note: for trending purposes, when there is no reported price in a rural location, the corresponding reported urban price is used. (e.g. 25/3 Internet service was not available in rural Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island or the North^{Footnote 6} in 2016, therefore only urban prices were used).

In 2018, average prices ranged from $166 in Quebec to $220 in the North, with Prince Edward Island not far behind at $213.

Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia reported the lowest average combined prices due to lower internet and mobile prices, in that order.

Average provincial/territorial prices decreased in 2018 as compared to 2016, especially in the North and the West, again due primarily to significantly lower mobile prices. Prices in the North dropped by 25% overall, with price reductions for each service, especially mobile (35%) and Internet (26%). The Internet price drop is largely attributable to an increase in the number of providers now offering Internet service at speeds of 25/3 Mbps or faster.

Link directly to Urban versus rural comparison Urban versus rural comparison

Long description

Location	Basic television service	Basic wireline telephone service	25/3 Internet service	Mobile telephone service with unlimited voice, SMS and 5 GB of data	Total
Urban centres	$24.60	$34.19	$72.60	$51.71	$183.11
Rural communities	$26.49	$33.95	$88.02	$50.38	$198.84

Source: CRTC data collection

In 2018, the average combined price in urban areas tended to be lower than in rural communities. Nationally, the average combined price was $183 for urban centres and $199 for rural communities, a difference of about 9%, higher than the 5% urban-rural difference in 2017. The gap between prices in urban centres and rural communities varied by region (for detailed urban and rural data, please see Open Data).

As seen above, 25/3 Internet service had the largest urban-rural price variance of the four services. This variance was also seen at the provincial/territorial level, ranging from the urban 25/3 price being lower than the rural price by about $38 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, to the urban price being about $6 higher than the rural price in the North.

The urban-rural price difference in 2018 was greatest in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, with urban prices approximately 13% lower than rural prices.

Average combined prices in northern rural communities were about 10% lower than those in northern urban areas, due mainly to the presence of satellite Internet access service, which is usually not available in urban areas, and is offered at a lower price than its fixed counterpart.

Urban centres

Average combined prices in urban centres ranged from $156 in Quebec to $231 in the North,^{Footnote 7} with Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia also near the top at $210.

Provincial/territorial price differences are due, to a large degree, to differences in prices for Internet service, which ranged from $54 in Ontario to $107 in the North.

Mobile prices ranged from a low of $44 in Quebec to a high of $66 in the North.

Rural communities

The average combined price in rural communities ranged from a low of $176 in Quebec to a high of approximately $214 in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, with the North not far behind at $209.

High prices in Prince Edward Island and the North are mainly due to higher Internet (and to a lesser degree mobile) prices, which are similarly high in urban centres.

The highest average price for Internet service was in the North ($101), while the highest price for basic wireline voice services ($38) was in Ontario. Ontario also had the highest average price for basic television service ($30), and Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia had the highest average price for mobile services ($56).

Link directly to ii. Television distribution services ii. Television distribution services

In 2018, the lowest prices for basic television^{Footnote 8} service ranged from $14 to $25, depending on the area in which the service was offered. Generally, the areas with the lowest prices had three or more competitors offering services.

A basic television package usually offers between 20 and 35 channels, depending on the location and service provider. It includes local and regional television stations, mandatory distribution channels (e.g. Weather Network, APTN), community and provincial legislature channels (where available), and provincial/territorial educational channels. A basic television service package is meant as an entry-level service offering and presents the lowest cost for a television service subscription.

While licensed distributors must offer a basic television package for $25 per month or less, exempted distributors, such as small cable companies, may offer a service including more channels and at a higher price as their entry level service. This results in prices higher than $25 in the following charts.

The bar charts in this section display the range of prices for the various services in urban centres and rural communities in Canada. The number of service providers surveyed is indicated in parentheses. When multiple numbers are displayed, for example “(2/3)”, it means there were two to three providers reporting for the area.

Link directly to Urban centres Urban centres

In urban centres throughout Canada, $25 television distribution service packages were offered by licensed Broadcasting Distribution Undertakings (BDUs)^{Footnote 9} as mandated in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-96. In the North, the lowest price remained $25, while in the Atlantic provinces^{Footnote 10} prices were reduced to $18, compared with $25 in the previous year. This price point was similar to that in the rest of Canada, as only in Toronto, Hamilton, London and Kitchener-Waterloo were prices lower ($14).

In the markets where basic television service was offered at the lowest price, five or more competitors were present, and they included Internet Protocol television (IPTV)^{Footnote 11} service providers.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (1)	$25	$25
Yellowknife (2)	$25	$25
Whitehorse (2)	$25	$25
St. John's (3)	$18	$25
Charlottetown (3)	$18	$25
Halifax (3)	$18	$25
Fredericton (3)	$18	$25
Québec (3)	$18	$25
Montréal (4)	$18	$30
Oshawa (4)	$18	$50
Windsor (4)	$18	$50
St Catharines - Niagara (4)	$18	$50
Kitchener-Waterloo (5)	$14	$50
London (5)	$14	$50
Hamilton (6)	$14	$50
Ottawa-Gatineau (5)	$18	$50
Toronto (6)	$14	$50
Winnipeg (4)	$18	$25
Regina (4)	$18	$58
Saskatoon (4)	$18	$58
Edmonton (4)	$18	$25
Calgary (4)	$18	$25
Victoria (4)	$18	$25
Vancouver (5)	$18	$25

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to Rural communities versus urban centres Rural communities versus urban centres

In 2018, prices for basic television service were usually lower in areas with three or more service providers reporting. The lowest price in urban centres was in Ontario, at $14.

The lowest price in rural communities was $24 in Quebec and $25 in all other provinces.

Overall, there was no difference between the lowest price in rural communities and the lowest price in urban centres in the North, while the difference ranged from $7 in most provinces to $11 in Ontario.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (1)	$25	$25
Nvt. rural (1)	$25	$25
N.W.T. urban (2)	$25	$25
N.W.T. rural (1/2)	$25	$25
Y.T. urban (2)	$25	$25
Y.T. rural (1)	$25	$25
N.L. urban (3)	$18	$25
N.L. rural (2)	$25	$25
N.S. urban (3)	$18	$25
N.S. rural (2)	$25	$25
P.E.I. urban (3)	$18	$25
P.E.I. rural (2)	$25	$25
N.B. urban (3)	$18	$25
N.B. rural (2)	$25	$25
Que. urban (3/4)	$18	$30
Que. rural (2/3)	$24	$46
Ont. urban (4/6)	$14	$50
Ont. rural (1/3)	$25	$67
Man. urban (4)	$18	$25
Man. rural (1)	$25	$25
Sask. urban (4)	$18	$58
Sask. rural (2/3)	$25	$40
Alta. urban (4)	$18	$25
Alta. rural (2/3)	$25	$79
B.C. urban (4/5)	$18	$25
B.C. rural (2/3)	$25	$78

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to iii. Local wireline telephone services iii. Local wireline telephone services

Local wireline telephone service was available across Canada for approximately $33. In certain areas the service was available for under $25.

Basic local telephone service^{Footnote 12} includes unlimited calling within a defined local calling area, 9-1-1 services, and message relay services, as well as access to long distance services.

The bar charts in this section display the range of prices for the various services in urban centres and rural communities in Canada. The number of service providers surveyed is indicated in parentheses. When multiple numbers are displayed, for example “(2/3)”, it means there were two to three providers reporting for the area.

Link directly to Urban centres Urban centres

Overall, prices for basic wireline telephone service in urban centres ranged between approximately $31 and $43 per month. In Montréal, Regina and Saskatoon, reported minimum prices were approximately $8 lower, at $23.

The lowest price in the North was $31 in Whitehorse and Yellowknife.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Vancouver (3)	$30	$43
Victoria (3)	$31	$43
Calgary (3)	$31	$43
Edmonton (3)	$31	$43
Saskatoon (2)	$23	$37
Regina (2)	$23	$30
Winnipeg (3)	$32	$43
Toronto (3)	$32	$43
Ottawa-Gatineau (4)	$31	$43
Hamilton (5)	$31	$43
London (5)	$31	$43
Kitchener-Waterloo (4)	$31	$43
St Catharines - Niagara (3)	$32	$43
Windsor (3)	$32	$43
Oshawa (3)	$32	$43
Montréal (4)	$23	$43
Québec (3)	$31	$43
Fredericton (2)	$32	$32
Halifax (2)	$32	$39
Charlottetown (2)	$32	$39
St. John's (2)	$32	$32
Whitehorse (1)	$31	$31
Yellowknife (1)	$31	$31
Iqaluit (1)	$33	$33

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to Rural communities versus urban centres Rural communities versus urban centres

Prices for basic wireline telephone service were generally consistent between urban centres and rural communities, with service available at approximately $32 per month. The lowest prices were in Saskatchewan and Quebec urban centres ($23), followed by rural communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia ($26).

Overall, prices in urban centres ranged from $23 in Saskatchewan and Quebec to $43 in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, while prices in rural communities ranged from $26 in Newfoundland and Labrador to $44 in Ontario.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (1)	$33	$33
Nvt. rural (1)	$33	$33
N.W.T. urban (1)	$31	$31
N.W.T. rural (1)	$33	$33
Y.T. urban (1)	$31	$31
Y.T. rural (1)	$33	$33
N.L. urban (2)	$32	$32
N.L. rural (1/2)	$26	$39
N.S. urban (2)	$32	$39
N.S. rural (2)	$32	$39
P.E.I. urban (2)	$32	$39
P.E.I. rural (2)	$32	$39
N.B. urban (2)	$32	$32
N.B. rural (2)	$30	$32
Que. urban (3/4)	$23	$43
Que. rural (1/3)	$29	$43
Ont. urban (3/5)	$31	$43
Ont. rural (0/3)	$28	$44
Man. urban (3)	$32	$43
Man. rural (1)	$32	$32
Sask. urban (2)	$23	$37
Sask. rural (1)	$33	$33
Alta. urban (3)	$31	$43
Alta. rural (1)	$32	$35
B.C. urban (3)	$30	$43
B.C. rural (1/3)	$27	$43

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to iv. Internet services iv. Internet services

Consistent with previous years, urban households generally had access to lower Internet service prices in 2018. They also had a greater number of Internet service providers (ISPs) to choose from compared with rural households. On average, rural communities had access to four ISPs, while urban centres had access to eight.

In 2018, ISPs were asked to report the prices of services meeting the service objective target and the former objective target, as well as an intermediate service:

• 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload (5/1 Mbps) (the former basic service objective target speeds)
• 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3 Mbps) with at least 100 GB of monthly data transfer
• 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload (50/10 Mbps) with unlimited monthly data transfer (the new universal service objective target speeds)

The bar charts in this section display the range of prices for the various services in urban centres and rural communities in Canada. The number of service providers surveyed is indicated in parentheses. When multiple numbers are displayed, for example “(2/3)”, it means that there were two to three providers reporting for the area.

Link directly to Urban centres Urban centres

Urban centres in Ontario and Quebec had more ISPs than those in western Canada, followed by the Atlantic provinces. The territories had the fewest options for ISPs.

5/1 Mbps service

In urban centres, 5/1 Mbps Internet service was available for as low as $19 per month in Alberta and $25 per month in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario, with the exception of Regina ($39). In the Atlantic provinces and the North, the lowest price varied from $37 to $70.

The lowest-priced 5/1 Mbps service option reported was provided with unlimited data transfer by three to five ISPs in each city in the Atlantic provinces and Alberta and British Columbia, four ISPs in each city in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, six in Quebec cities and 8 to 10 ISPs in Ontario cities. Ontario also featured more ISPs and greater use of wholesale broadband services. None of the reported services in the territories had unlimited data transfer in their lowest-priced offering.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (2)	$70	$80
Yellowknife (1)	$42	$42
Whitehorse (1)	$42	$42
St. John's (4)	$37	$100
Charlottetown (3)	$42	$100
Halifax (3)	$42	$100
Fredericton (4)	$37	$100
Québec (11)	$25	$60
Montréal (10)	$25	$60
Oshawa (12)	$25	$68
Windsor (13)	$25	$70
St Catharines - Niagara (12)	$25	$70
Kitchener-Waterloo (12)	$25	$68
London (13)	$25	$70
Hamilton (13)	$25	$70
Ottawa-Gatineau (14)	$25	$68
Toronto (13)	$25	$68
Winnipeg (5)	$25	$68
Regina (4)	$33	$53
Saskatoon (5)	$25	$65
Edmonton (8)	$19	$65
Calgary (8)	$19	$65
Victoria (8)	$25	$65
Vancouver (8)	$25	$65

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Except in Iqaluit, satellite services are excluded in urban areas.

25/3 Mbps service with at least 100 GB of monthly data transfer

Internet service with a download speed of 25 Mbps and upload speed of 3 Mbps or more was available for a minimum of about $33 to $40 across urban centres in Canada, except in the Atlantic provinces and in the North. The lowest price was $33, found throughout urban centres in British Columbia and Alberta.

The lowest-priced 25/3 Mbps service option reported was provided with unlimited data transfer by two providers in cities in the Atlantic provinces, four in cities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and by five providers in each city in British Columbia and Alberta. In Ontario cities, nine to eleven providers in each area provided unlimited data in their lowest-cost option, while cities in Quebec each had eight providers report this. As noted earlier, these areas also featured more ISPs and greater use of wholesale broadband services. No reported services in the territories had unlimited data transfer in their lowest-priced offering.

The lowest-cost 25/3 Mbps service options reported with data transfer limits tended to include at least 200 GB, while in many areas up to 400 GB were included by some ISPs.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (1)	$100	$100
Yellowknife (1)	$111	$111
Whitehorse (1)	$111	$111
St. John's (3)	$65	$100
Charlottetown (2)	$96	$100
Halifax (2)	$96	$100
Fredericton (3)	$65	$100
Québec (11)	$40	$86
Montréal (9)	$35	$86
Oshawa (12)	$35	$78
Windsor (13)	$35	$90
St Catharines - Niagara (12)	$35	$90
Kitchener-Waterloo (12)	$35	$78
London (13)	$35	$90
Hamilton (13)	$35	$90
Ottawa-Gatineau (13)	$35	$79
Toronto (13)	$35	$78
Winnipeg (5)	$35	$85
Regina (4)	$35	$68
Saskatoon (5)	$35	$85
Edmonton (8)	$33	$85
Calgary (8)	$33	$85
Victoria (8)	$33	$85
Vancouver (8)	$33	$85

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

50/10 Mbps service with unlimited monthly data transfer

As shown in the figure below, service including unlimited data transfer and speeds of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload was available in all non-territorial urban centres. Prices ranged from $48 to $101 in Alberta and British Columbia, from $50 to $95 in Ontario and Quebec, from $55 to $101 in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and from $78 to $100 in the Atlantic provinces. This regional difference is also seen in the average price (pricing data), which is lower in Ontario and Quebec than in other areas.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (0)	$0	$0
Yellowknife (0)	$0	$0
Whitehorse (0)	$0	$0
St. John's (3)	$78	$100
Charlottetown (2)	$96	$100
Halifax (2)	$96	$100
Fredericton (3)	$78	$100
Québec (11)	$50	$86
Montréal (9)	$50	$86
Oshawa (12)	$50	$93
Windsor (13)	$50	$95
St Catharines - Niagara (12)	$50	$95
Kitchener-Waterloo (12)	$50	$93
London (13)	$50	$95
Hamilton (13)	$50	$95
Ottawa-Gatineau (13)	$50	$93
Toronto (12)	$50	$93
Winnipeg (5)	$55	$101
Regina (4)	$55	$85
Saskatoon (5)	$55	$101
Edmonton (8)	$48	$101
Calgary (8)	$48	$101
Victoria (8)	$48	$101
Vancouver (8)	$48	$101

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to Rural communities versus urban centres Rural communities versus urban centres

Canadians living in rural communities generally have fewer ISPs to choose from than those living in urban centres. In the rural areas examined, the average number of available ISPs was four, and in urban areas this average was eight.

In addition to having fewer ISPs, rural communities also had access to lower Internet service speeds. Service offerings were reported in all rural communities for 5/1 Mbps and 25/3 service, and in 68% of rural communities for 50/10 Mbps service.

In addition to generally higher prices, service offerings in rural communities tended to have lower reported monthly data transfer limits (an average of 151 GB for 25/3 and 5/1 Mbps services) than those in urban areas (an average of 182 GB for 25/3 and 5/1 Mbps services), as well as fewer ISPs providing unlimited data transfer with their reported lowest-price offering.

Unlimited data transfer was included in the lowest-priced service offering reported in around 83% of rural areas for 5/1 Mbps service, and in 54% of rural areas for 25/3 Mbps service.

5/1 Mbps service

The lowest price for 5/1 Mbps service in urban centres was $19, in Alberta. The lowest price for the same service in rural communities was $24, in Ontario and British Columbia.

The provinces with the largest difference in lowest reported price between rural communities and urban centres were Manitoba (a $43 difference), Newfoundland and Labrador (a $33 difference), and Nova Scotia and Yukon (a $28 difference).

Ontario had the highest number of ISPs reporting service offerings and the lowest prices in rural communities ($24) and only a one dollar difference between the lowest prices in rural communities and urban centres.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (2)	$70	$80
Nvt. rural (1)	$70	$70
N.W.T. urban (1)	$42	$42
N.W.T. rural (2)	$42	$77
Y.T. urban (1)	$42	$42
Y.T. rural (2)	$70	$84
N.L. urban (4)	$37	$100
N.L. rural (2/3)	$70	$99
N.S. urban (3)	$42	$100
N.S. rural (2/3)	$70	$100
P.E.I. urban (3)	$42	$100
P.E.I. rural (3/4)	$42	$99
N.B. urban (4)	$37	$100
N.B. rural (2/5)	$37	$99
Que. urban (10/11)	$25	$60
Que. rural (3/8)	$28	$70
Ont. urban (12/14)	$25	$70
Ont. rural (3/8)	$24	$90
Man. urban (5)	$25	$68
Man. rural (1/2)	$68	$73
Sask. urban (4/5)	$25	$65
Sask. rural (2/4)	$45	$89
Alta. urban (8)	$19	$65
Alta. rural (3/6)	$24	$87
B.C. urban (8)	$25	$65
B.C. rural (3/5)	$24	$70

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Except in Iqaluit, satellite services are excluded in urban areas.

25/3 Mbps service with at least 100 GB of monthly data transfer

Prices for 25/3 Mbps service varied from $33 to $111. The lowest price in urban areas was $33, in British Columbia and Alberta, while prices in the North ranged from $100 to $111 per month, where the service was available.

In rural communities, prices for this service ranged from $33 Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario to $111 in the North, where the service was available.

The difference in prices between rural communities and urban areas ranged from $0 in Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and New Brunswick to $65 in Manitoba.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (1)	$100	$100
Nvt. rural (1)	$100	$100
N.W.T. urban (1)	$111	$111
N.W.T. rural (1/2)	$100	$111
Y.T. urban (1)	$111	$111
Y.T. rural (1)	$100	$100
N.L. urban (3)	$65	$100
N.L. rural (2)	$96	$100
N.S. urban (2)	$96	$100
N.S. rural (2/3)	$96	$100
P.E.I. urban (2)	$96	$100
P.E.I. rural (2)	$96	$100
N.B. urban (3)	$65	$100
N.B. rural (2/3)	$65	$100
Que. urban (9/11)	$40	$86
Que. rural (1/6)	$40	$100
Ont. urban (12/13)	$35	$90
Ont. rural (3/7)	$33	$100
Man. urban (5)	$35	$85
Man. rural (1)	$100	$100
Sask. urban (4/5)	$35	$85
Sask. rural (1/2)	$75	$100
Alta. urban (8)	$33	$85
Alta. rural (2/3)	$33	$100
B.C. urban (8)	$33	$85
B.C. rural (2/4)	$33	$100

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

50/10 Mbps service with unlimited monthly data transfer

50/10 Mbps service offerings were reported through most of the provinces, with the exception of rural Manitoba and rural Saskatchewan, which tended to rely on fixed wireless service offerings. Prices ranged from $40 in Quebec to $101 in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. This service was not reported in the territories.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (0)	$0	$0
Nvt. rural (0)	$0	$0
N.W.T. urban (0)	$0	$0
N.W.T. rural (0)	$0	$0
Y.T. urban (0)	$0	$0
Y.T. rural (0)	$0	$0
N.L. urban (3)	$78	$100
N.L. rural (1)	$96	$96
N.S. urban (2)	$96	$100
N.S. rural (1/2)	$96	$100
P.E.I. urban (2)	$96	$100
P.E.I. rural (1)	$96	$96
N.B. urban (3)	$78	$100
N.B. rural (1/2)	$78	$93
Que. urban (9/11)	$50	$86
Que. rural (0/5)	$40	$80
Ont. urban (12/13)	$50	$95
Ont. rural (2/5)	$50	$95
Man. urban (5)	$55	$101
Man. rural (0)	$0	$0
Sask. urban (4/5)	$55	$101
Sask. rural (0)	$0	$0
Alta. urban (8)	$48	$101
Alta. rural (1/2)	$50	$80
B.C. urban (8)	$48	$101
B.C. rural (1/3)	$50	$80

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to v. Mobile services v. Mobile services

In 2018, each studied market had two or more wireless service providers (WSPs), with Ontario the only province to have five WSPs in certain urban centres.

The price structure of mobile services is based on usage. To assess the prices for these services in urban centres and in rural communities, four service baskets were used, and both flanker and primary service brands were considered. These baskets were modified in 2016 to increase the amount of Internet data included per month in the level 2, 3 and 4 baskets.

• The level 1 service basket comprises introductory or low-usage types of plans that offer 150 minutes of voice service per month, with no SMS or Internet data.
• The level 2 mobile service basket comprises low- to mid-tier types of plans that offer at least 450 minutes of voice service, 300 SMS and 1 GB of Internet data per month.
• The level 3 service basket comprises plans geared towards the typical smartphone user, offering at least 1200 minutes of voice service, 300 SMS and 2 GB of Internet data per month.
• The level 4 service basket is geared towards smartphone users who want access to unlimited minutes of voice service and SMS, along with 5 GB of Internet data per month.

As in previous years, the difference between the lowest and highest prices generally grew as the service baskets included more voice and data usage.

The bar charts in this section display the range of prices for the various services in urban centres and rural communities in Canada. The number of service providers surveyed is indicated in parentheses. When multiple numbers are displayed, for example “(2/3)”, it means there were two to three providers reporting for the area.

Link directly to Urban centres Urban centres

Urban centres with four or more WSPs generally had the largest difference between the lowest and highest prices reported, as well as the lowest reported prices in three of the four service baskets. The differences between the lowest and highest prices across all service baskets in any given urban centre ranged from a low of $3 to a high of $54. The price difference that was most pronounced was for the level 4 service basket in the North. The average price differences between the lowest and highest reported prices for the level 1, 2, 3 and 4 service baskets were $17, $12, $15 and $20 respectively.

Level 1 services – 150 minutes of voice, no SMS, no Internet data

Level 1 services were available for approximately $20 or less across Canada. Prices were lowest in Ottawa-Gatineau, Montréal and Québec, at $14, while in the rest of Canada they were at or below $20.

Prices for level 1 services had limited variations within urban centres. The lowest prices in most cities ranged from $14 to $20, with the widest variation between lowest and highest price ($21) being in Ottawa-Gatineau, the only urban centre that had five WSPs.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (3)	$19	$35
Yellowknife (3)	$19	$35
Whitehorse (3)	$19	$35
St. John's (3)	$20	$35
Halifax (4)	$20	$35
Charlottetown (4)	$20	$35
Fredericton (4)	$20	$35
Québec (4)	$14	$25
Montréal (4)	$14	$25
Oshawa (4)	$15	$35
Windsor (4)	$15	$35
St Catharines - Niagara (4)	$15	$35
Kitchener-Waterloo (4)	$15	$35
London (4)	$15	$35
Hamilton (4)	$15	$35
Ottawa-Gatineau (5)	$14	$35
Toronto (4)	$15	$35
Winnipeg (4)	$20	$35
Regina (4)	$20	$31
Saskatoon (4)	$20	$31
Edmonton (4)	$15	$35
Calgary (4)	$15	$35
Victoria (3)	$20	$35
Vancouver (4)	$15	$35

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 2 services – 450 minutes of voice, 300 SMS, 1 GB of Internet data

The lowest prices in urban centres for level 2 services ranged from $24 in Ottawa-Gatineau, Québec and Montréal to $35 in almost all other provinces and territories. In all the provinces and territories, including in the North, level 2 services were available at a price point of $35 or lower.

Overall, prices ranged from $24 to $56, while in most areas the difference between the lowest and highest price was about $10.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (2)	$35	$45
Yellowknife (2)	$35	$45
Whitehorse (2)	$35	$45
St. John's (3)	$35	$45
Halifax (4)	$35	$45
Charlottetown (4)	$35	$45
Fredericton (4)	$35	$45
Québec (4)	$24	$35
Montréal (4)	$24	$35
Oshawa (4)	$35	$45
Windsor (4)	$35	$45
St Catharines - Niagara (4)	$35	$45
Kitchener - Waterloo (4)	$35	$45
London (4)	$35	$45
Hamilton (4)	$35	$45
Ottawa-Gatineau (5)	$24	$45
Toronto (4)	$35	$45
Winnipeg (4)	$30	$48
Regina (4)	$31	$56
Saskatoon (4)	$31	$56
Edmonton (4)	$35	$45
Calgary (4)	$35	$45
Victoria (3)	$35	$45
Vancouver (4)	$35	$45

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 3 services – 1,200 minutes of voice, 300 SMS, 2 GB of Internet data

In urban centres, level 3 services were mostly available for $40 or less. The lowest price was $26, found in cities in Quebec.

Prices ranged from $26 to $71, and three or more service providers reported offerings in each urban centre, except in the North.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (2)	$40	$50
Yellowknife (2)	$40	$50
Whitehorse (2)	$40	$50
St. John's (3)	$40	$60
Halifax (4)	$40	$60
Charlottetown (4)	$40	$60
Fredericton (4)	$40	$60
Québec (4)	$26	$45
Montréal (4)	$26	$45
Oshawa (4)	$40	$50
Windsor (4)	$40	$50
St Catharines - Niagara (4)	$40	$50
Kitchener - Waterloo (4)	$40	$50
London (4)	$40	$50
Hamilton (4)	$40	$50
Ottawa-Gatineau (5)	$26	$50
Toronto (4)	$40	$50
Winnipeg (4)	$40	$48
Regina (4)	$40	$71
Saskatoon (4)	$40	$71
Edmonton (4)	$40	$50
Calgary (4)	$40	$50
Victoria (3)	$40	$50
Vancouver (4)	$40	$50

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 4 services – unlimited voice and SMS, 5 GB of Internet data

The lowest price in urban centres ranged from $36 in Ontario and Quebec to $99 in the North.

Overall, prices for level 4 services ranged from $36 to $99, with the largest difference observed in the North, where prices ranged from $45 to $99, a difference of $54.

Long description

City and number of providers	Minimum	Maximum
Iqaluit (3)	$45	$99
Yellowknife (3)	$45	$99
Whitehorse (3)	$45	$99
St. John's (3)	$45	$70
Halifax (4)	$45	$70
Charlottetown (4)	$45	$70
Fredericton (4)	$45	$70
Québec (4)	$36	$49
Montréal (4)	$36	$49
Oshawa (4)	$45	$55
Windsor (4)	$45	$55
St Catharines - Niagara (4)	$45	$55
Kitchener - Waterloo (4)	$45	$55
London (4)	$45	$55
Hamilton (4)	$45	$55
Ottawa-Gatineau (5)	$36	$55
Toronto (4)	$45	$55
Winnipeg (4)	$45	$48
Regina (4)	$45	$71
Saskatoon (4)	$45	$71
Edmonton (4)	$45	$55
Calgary (4)	$45	$55
Victoria (3)	$45	$55
Vancouver (4)	$45	$55

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to Rural communities versus urban centres Rural communities versus urban centres

The prices for mobile wireless services in rural communities, across all service baskets, were generally equal to or higher than those in urban centres, with the exception of the level 3 and 4 service baskets, for which the average highest prices were slightly lower in rural communities. Within the level 4 service basket, rural communities in several Atlantic provinces and the three territories had access to reported lower prices compared to urban centres.

The average differences between the lowest and highest prices were slightly lower in rural communities than in urban centres for the level 1, 3 and 4 service baskets, while the level 2 service basket reported a small variance in the average price differences. The average differences between the lowest and highest prices for level 1, 2, 3 and 4 service baskets in rural communities were $13, $15, $15 and $15 respectively.

Level 1 services – 150 minutes of voice, no SMS, no Internet data

The lowest prices for level 1 services were consistent between urban centres and rural communities throughout Canada, except in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, where prices were approximately $6 higher in rural communities, at $20-$25.

The lowest price for level 1 service in rural communities was $20, offered in all provinces, while the lowest price for level 1 service in urban centres was $14, offered in Ontario and Quebec.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (3)	$19	$35
Nvt. rural (2)	$20	$35
N.W.T. urban (3)	$19	$35
N.W.T. rural (2)	$20	$35
Y.T. urban (3)	$19	$35
Y.T. rural (2)	$20	$35
N.L. urban (3)	$20	$35
N.L. rural (3)	$20	$35
N.S. urban (4)	$20	$35
N.S. rural (4)	$20	$35
P.E.I. urban (4)	$20	$35
P.E.I. rural (4)	$20	$35
N.B. urban (3)	$20	$35
N.B. rural (3)	$20	$35
Que. urban (4)	$14	$25
Que. rural (4)	$14	$25
Ont. urban (5)	$14	$35
Ont. rural (3)	$20	$35
Man. urban (4)	$20	$35
Man. rural (4)	$20	$35
Sask. urban (4)	$20	$31
Sask. rural (4)	$20	$31
Alta. urban (4)	$15	$35
Alta. rural (3)	$20	$35
B.C. urban (4)	$15	$35
B.C. rural (3)	$20	$35

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 2 services – 450 minutes of voice, 300 SMS, 1 GB of Internet data

Prices for level 2 services were consistent between rural communities and urban centres throughout Canada, except in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, where prices were approximately $11 higher in rural communities, at $35.

The lowest price for a level 2 service was in Quebec, at $24, followed by all the other provinces and the North, where prices ranged from $30 to $35.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (2)	$35	$45
Nvt. rural (2)	$35	$45
N.W.T. urban (2)	$35	$45
N.W.T. rural (2)	$35	$45
Y.T. urban (2)	$35	$45
Y.T. rural (2)	$35	$45
N.L. urban (3)	$35	$45
N.L. rural (3)	$35	$62
N.S. urban (4)	$35	$45
N.S. rural (4)	$35	$61
P.E.I. urban (4)	$35	$45
P.E.I. rural (4)	$35	$50
N.B. urban (3)	$35	$45
N.B. rural (3)	$35	$45
Que. urban (4)	$24	$35
Que. rural (4)	$24	$35
Ont. urban (5)	$24	$45
Ont. rural (3)	$35	$45
Man. urban (4)	$30	$48
Man. rural (4)	$30	$48
Sask. urban (4)	$31	$56
Sask. rural (4)	$31	$56
Alta. urban (4)	$35	$45
Alta. rural (3)	$35	$45
B.C. urban (4)	$35	$45
B.C. rural (3)	$35	$45

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 3 services – 1,200 minutes of voice, 300 SMS, 2 GB of Internet data

Prices for level 3 services were mostly consistent between urban centres and rural communities, with the exception of Ontario and Quebec where the lowest prices in some urban centres and rural communities were $26 – the lowest price compared to all other provinces and territories. In the other provinces, the differences between the lowest prices in urban centres and those in rural communities ranged from $0 (in all provinces and territories except Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia) to $14 (Ontario).

In rural communities, the lowest price for level 3 services ranged from $26 in Quebec to $40 in all other provinces and territories.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (2)	$40	$50
Nvt. rural (2)	$40	$50
N.W.T. urban (2)	$40	$50
N.W.T. rural (2)	$40	$50
Y.T. urban (2)	$40	$50
Y.T. rural (2)	$40	$50
N.L. urban (3)	$45	$65
N.L. rural (3)	$40	$53
N.S. urban (4)	$45	$65
N.S. rural (4)	$40	$65
P.E.I. urban (4)	$40	$60
P.E.I. rural (4)	$40	$65
N.B. urban (3)	$40	$60
N.B. rural (3)	$40	$50
Que. urban (4)	$26	$45
Que. rural (4)	$26	$45
Ont. urban (5)	$26	$50
Ont. rural (3)	$40	$50
Man. urban (4)	$35	$48
Man. rural (4)	$35	$48
Sask. urban (4)	$40	$71
Sask. rural (4)	$40	$71
Alta. urban (4)	$40	$50
Alta. rural (3)	$40	$50
B.C. urban (4)	$40	$50
B.C. rural (3)	$40	$50

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Level 4 services – unlimited voice and SMS, 5 GB of Internet data

The differences in the lowest price for level 4 services between urban centres and rural communities were the most consistent across all provinces and territories. Ontario was the only province to have an urban-rural difference in the lowest price for level 4 services, at $9.

While services are generally more expensive in rural communities, the opposite was the case in the North, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick, where lower prices for level 4 services were available in rural communities than in urban centres.

The lowest prices for level 4 services in rural communities ranged from $36 in Quebec to $45 in all other provinces and territories.

Long description

Province and number of providers	Low	High
Nvt. urban (3)	$45	$99
Nvt. rural (2)	$45	$55
N.W.T. urban (3)	$45	$99
N.W.T. rural (2)	$45	$55
Y.T. urban (3)	$45	$99
Y.T. rural (2)	$45	$55
N.L. urban (3)	$45	$70
N.L. rural (3)	$45	$64
N.S. urban (4)	$45	$70
N.S. rural (4)	$45	$75
P.E.I. urban (4)	$45	$70
P.E.I. rural (4)	$45	$75
N.B. urban (3)	$45	$70
N.B. rural (3)	$45	$55
Que. urban (4)	$36	$49
Que. rural (4)	$36	$49
Ont. urban (5)	$36	$55
Ont. rural (3)	$45	$55
Man. urban (4)	$45	$48
Man. rural (4)	$45	$48
Sask. urban (4)	$45	$71
Sask. rural (4)	$45	$71
Alta. urban (4)	$45	$55
Alta. rural (3)	$45	$55
B.C. urban (4)	$45	$55
B.C. rural (3)	$45	$55

Prices have been rounded in this figure. View the precise data on Open Data.

Source: CRTC data collection

Link directly to vi. Methodology vi. Methodology

Link directly to Basic television Basic television

A basic television package includes local and regional TV stations, channels with mandatory distribution, community and provincial legislature channels (where available), and provincial/territorial educational channels.

Link directly to Basic wireline phone service Basic wireline phone service

Basic wireline phone service refers to single-line, local telephone service operating over a managed network (i.e. circuit-switched or IP-based), including dial-tone, touchtone, message relay and 9-1-1 service. Access independent voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony and mobile are not considered basic wireline phone services for the purposes of this report.

Link directly to Internet services Internet services

Internet services are represented by residential fixed Internet for the following services:

• 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload (5/1 Mbps) (the former basic service objective target speeds)
• 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3 Mbps) with at least 100 GB of monthly data transfer
• 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload (50/10 Mbps) with unlimited monthly data transfer (the new universal service objective target speeds).

Services include packages that meet or exceed one of the three specifications above.

Prices for Internet services using satellite technology are included for rural locations but not for urban locations, except for Iqaluit.

Link directly to Mobile services Mobile services

The price structure of mobile services is based on usage. To assess the prices for these services in urban centres and rural communities, four service baskets were used, and both flanker and primary service brands were considered. These baskets were modified in 2016 to increase the amount of Internet data included per month in the level 2, 3 and 4 baskets.

• The level 1 service basket comprises introductory or low-usage types of plans that offer 150 minutes of voice service per month, with no SMS or Internet data.
• The level 2 mobile service basket comprises low- to mid-tier types of plans that offer at least 450 minutes of voice service, 300 SMS and 1 GB of Internet data per month.
• The level 3 service basket comprises plans geared towards the typical smartphone user, offering at least 1200 minutes of voice service, 300 SMS and 2 GB of Internet data per month.
• The level 4 service basket is geared towards smartphone users who want access to unlimited minutes of voice service and SMS, along with 5 GB of Internet data per month.

Link directly to Prices Prices

Prices in this section refer to monthly prices as reported through CRTC data collection representing the price of each provider’s offering the defined services: basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (3 levels of service) and mobile (4 levels of service).

Service providers identify and report the price of the offering, including those of their flanker brands, which best matches the service identified while meeting all of the criteria such as usage allowances and speed. Reported prices exclude charges such as activation fees device subsidies and roaming charges. Reported prices also exclude discounts such as customer retention discounts and bundling discounts.

Two different pricing metrics are used. Average reported prices are used for multi-year, urban vs. rural and multiple service analysis: basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (25/3) and mobile (unlimited voice & SMS and 5GB of data). Highest and lowest reported prices are used to describe price variances in urban centres and rural communities for the services listed above.

Link directly to Average reported prices Average reported prices

Average prices are used in Figure 2.1 through Figure 2.3, as well as in the infographics.

The averages are based on the reported service offerings and may not be reflective of the actual consumer expenditures. Data on household expenditures on communication services can be found in the Household Subscriptions and Expenditures section of the report.

Urban Centres and Rural Communities

The average price for an urban centre/rural community is calculated as the average of the reported prices submitted by entities for each respective urban centre/rural community.

Prices are calculated by service: basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (3 individual services) and mobile (4 individual tiers).

Provinces and Regions

Average urban and rural prices

The average price of a service for a province/territory is calculated as the average for each urban centre and rural communities sampled in the respective province/territory.

If there is no service (e.g. 50/10 Internet) offered in a particular rural community, the provincial or territorial average excludes this location.

Average provincial/territorial price

For the purpose of calculating an average price for a service in each province or territory, the average urban and rural prices for that province or territory are combined and weighted equally. When a price for a service is not available in the rural areas of a province or territory, only the urban price is used.

National prices

The average price for a service in urban centres and rural communities in Canada is the average of the respective urban and rural provincial and territorial prices.

For the purpose of calculating an average national price of a service, the national urban and rural prices are combined and weighted equally.

Overall

The average overall price is the average of urban and rural prices.

Due to availability issues for certain services, prices for the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut may be represented as “the North”.

CMR 2019 prices may not match previously published data, due largely to data revisions and late submissions.

Combined prices

The average combined price is the sum of basic television, basic wireline telephone, Internet (25/3) and mobile (unlimited voice & SMS and 5GB of data) prices.

Link directly to Highest and lowest reported prices Highest and lowest reported prices

Highest and lowest prices are used in Figure 2.5 through Figure 2.22.

The highest/lowest reported price for an urban centre or rural community is displayed as the highest/lowest reported price as submitted by entities for each particular urban location, by service.

Link directly to Variance Variance

The price variance is defined as the difference between the highest and lowest reported prices.

Link directly to Urban Centres and Rural Communities Urban Centres and Rural Communities

Rural communities were selected based on the following criteria:

• the community was not part of one of the census metropolitan areas of the 24 urban centres listed in Table 2.1 below;
• the community had a population density of fewer than 400 people per square kilometre, or its population centres had fewer than 1,000 people per centre;
• the number of communities selected in each province or territory reflected that province’s or territory’s proportion of the total population of Canada; and
• the communities were not geographically clustered.

Major centre boundaries are defined using Statistics Canada’s census metropolitan area and census agglomeration definitions.

Contents of the Report

1. Communications Services in Canadian Households: Subscriptions and Expenditures 2013-2017
2. 2018 Communications Services Pricing in Canada
3. Communications Industry Overview: Telecommunications and Broadcasting
4. Broadcasting Overview
5. Radio Sector
6. Television Sector
7. Broadcasting Distribution Sector
8. Telecommunications Overview
9. Retail Fixed Internet Sector and Broadband Availability
10. Retail Mobile Sector

Go directly to:

• Full table of contents
• Full list of infographics, figures and tables