List of Canadian mobile phone companies

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As of March 2021, there are over 33 million wireless subscriptions in Canada.[1] Approximately 90% of Canadian mobile phone users subscribe to one of the four largest national telecommunication companies (Rogers Wireless, Bell Mobility, Freedom Mobile and Telus Mobility) or one of their subsidiary brands. These four mobile network operators own and operate transmission facilities that cover most of the country, though they sometimes share each other's networks in certain geographical regions in order to reduce costs and reach more customers.

The remaining 10% of subscribers are served by smaller, regional providers, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), and resellers.[2] Regional providers own and operate transmission facilities that cover a limited area and rely on partnerships with national service providers to connect their customers across Canada. In contrast, MVNOs and resellers do not own spectrum or network infrastructure and are required to lease network capacity from other providers at wholesale rates. While MVNOs have their own facilities to package and support their mobile services, resellers rely on the host network provider to package, market, bill, and deliver mobile services.[3]

All wireless service providers in Canada are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which has been blamed by some for the concentration of wireless service subscribers to only three large national carriers. Though measures have been taken to encourage more competition, critics suggest that more should be done to address the issue, e.g. by mandating wholesale network access for MVNOs.[4][5]

Mobile network operators (MNOs)[]

This is a list of mobile network operators, which includes national and regional service providers. Where applicable, this list will also include any subsidiary "extension" brands associated with a mobile service provider. While primary brands, such as Rogers Wireless or Bell Mobility, account for roughly 82% of wireless revenue, extension brands allow wireless service providers to differentiate service offerings and reach broader market segments.[6]

Operator Voice technology Data technology Subscribers

(in millions)

Coverage

(excluding roaming)

Ownership
Airtel Wireless iDEN N/A Unknown Calgary, AB Airtel Wireless Ltd.
Bell Mobility

•Includes Virgin Plus, Lucky Mobile, Bell MTS, PC Mobile, Bell Aliant, Northwestel,

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling HSPA+, LTE, NR 9.459[7] (Q4 2021)

•Postpaid: 8.630

•Prepaid: 0.829

Nationwide[note 1] BCE Inc.
Eastlink Wireless UMTS, VoLTE HSPA+, LTE 0.075 (Q4 2015) NB, NL, NS, ON, PE Eastlink
Fleetcom iDEN N/A Unknown Toronto, ON Fleetcom Inc.
Freedom Mobile

•Includes Shaw Mobile

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling HSPA+, LTE 2.116[8] (Q4 2021)

•Postpaid: 1.739

•Prepaid: 0.377

AB, BC, ON Shaw Communications
Iristel

•Includes Ice Wireless

UMTS, VoLTE HSPA+, LTE Unknown NU, NT, YT, QC Iristel
Keewaytinook Mobile GSM EDGE Unknown ON K-Net
Rogers Wireless

•Includes Fido Mobile, Chatr Mobile, Cityfone, Primus Wireless, Zoomer Wireless, SimplyConnect,, , Petro-Canada Mobility

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling

(legacy: GSM)

HSPA+, LTE, NR

(legacy: EDGE)

11.188[9]

(Q3 2021)

•Postpaid: 10.001

•Prepaid: 1.187

Nationwide Rogers Communications
SaskTel Mobility

•Includes

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling HSPA+, LTE 0.637 (Q1 2021) SK SaskTel
Sogetel Mobilité UMTS, VoLTE HSPA+, LTE Unknown QC Sogetel
Qiniq GSM, VoLTE EDGE, LTE Unknown NU, NT SSi Canada
TbayTel Mobility UMTS, VoLTE HSPA+, LTE Unknown ON TbayTel
Telus Mobility

•Includes Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile, ,

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling HSPA+, LTE, NR 9.178[10] (Q3 2021) Nationwide[note 1] Telus Corporation
TNW Wireless GSM, UMTS EDGE, HSPA+ Unknown BC, YT TNW Networks
Vidéotron Mobility

•Includes Fizz Mobile

UMTS, VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling HSPA+, LTE, NR 1.571[11] (Q3 2021) QC, ON Québecor
Xplore Mobile VoLTE LTE Unknown AB, MB Xplornet
  1. ^ a b Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility have a multiple operator core network agreement to provide a common radio network to the customer (distinct from a roaming arrangement, where the radio networks are separate). Bell builds most of its towers in Eastern Canada, while most of Telus' towers are in Western Canada.

Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and resellers[]

Operator Network Ownership
7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless Rogers Wireless Ztar Mobile
Unknown Rasa Mobile
dotmobile Iristel[12] Data On Tap Inc.
Rogers Wireless Cansel
DCI Wireless Telus Mobility DCI Telecom
Execulink Mobility Bell Mobility Execulink Telecom
[13] Rogers Wireless Ztar Mobile
KORE Wireless[14] Rogers Wireless KORE Telematics
OnStar Bell Mobility General Motors
PC Mobile Bell Mobility Loblaws
Petro-Canada Mobility Rogers Wireless
Bell Mobility
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by with reliable sources.

Former MVNOs[]

Operator Network Ownership Notes
Solo Mobile Bell Mobility Bell Canada Discontinued for new customers, but still active for current ones.
Clearnet Telus Mobility Telus Mobility Discontinued as of June 2, 2012. Started on April 5th, 2011 by Telus.

Defunct, merged and acquired operators[]

Some operators listed below may still function as a separate brand but they no longer own any infrastructure (towers, network, etc.).

Operator Ownership Voice technology Data technology End date Notes
CityWest CityWest GSM EDGE December 13, 2013 Wireless services discontinued; mobile customers transitioned to Telus[15]
Clearnet Clearnet Communications CDMA2000 EV-DO 2000 Network merged with Telus
Dryden Municipal Telephone Service Dryden Municipal Telephone Service GSM, CDMA2000 EDGE, EV-DO December 21, 2012 Wireless customers migrated to Tbaytel[16]
Fido Microcell GSM EDGE November 8, 2004 Network merged with Rogers; continues to operate as an MVNO.
Kenora Municipal Telephone Service Kenora Municipal Telephone Service CDMA2000 EV-DO February 2008 Acquired by Bell Aliant.
Lynx Mobility Lynx Mobility GSM EDGE March 2018 Ceased operations.
Mobilicity DAVE Wireless UMTS HSPA+ July 19, 2015 Acquired by Rogers Wireless; customers transitioned to Chatr Mobile.
NorthernTel Mobility NorthernTel Mobility June 19, 2014 Acquired by Bell Aliant
Public Mobile Public Mobile CDMA2000 EV-DO August 8, 2014[17] Acquired by Telus; CDMA network decommissioned, continues to operate as a Telus MVNO[18]
Superior Wireless Superior Wireless CDMA2000 EV-DO August 2006 Merged with TBayTel
Télébec Mobilité Télébec February 2007 Télébec Mobilité wireless subscribers moved to Bell Aliant.[19]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Subscribers Stats EN 2021 Q1" (PDF). CWTA. Retrieved June 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "Communications Monitoring Report 2015" (PDF). CRTC.
  3. ^ "Mobile Service Providers". February 16, 2016.
  4. ^ Geist, Michael (May 8, 2015). "CRTC falls short on true wireless competition".
  5. ^ Chin, Brian. "No room for low-cost MVNO smartphone plan providers in Canada".
  6. ^ "Percentage of revenues and subscribers derived via primary brands, extension brands, and resellers/rebillers, 2014" (PDF). Communications Monitoring Report. CRTC.
  7. ^ {{Cite web|title=Mobilesyrup Q4 2021|url=https://mobilesyrup.com/2022/02/03/bell-bce-q4-2021-earnings/#:~:text=BCE%20released%20its%20Q4%202021,were%20up%2054.6%25%20to%20294%2C842.%7C
  8. ^ "Financial Reports". Shaw Communications. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Financial Reports". Rogers Investor Relations. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Quarterly Reports, Investor Relations - About". TELUS. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Financial documentation - Québecor". www.quebecor.com. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Iristel - Iristel Partners with dotmobile". www.iristel.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  13. ^ soon to be absorbed by PCM
  14. ^ only data, no voice
  15. ^ "About TELUS". about.telus.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  16. ^ "DMTS Notice to Customers " Dryden Municipal Telephone System". Dryden Municipal Telephone System. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  17. ^ "Public Mobile". www.publicmobile.ca.
  18. ^ "Public Mobile". www.publicmobile.ca.
  19. ^ "About Télébec > History".
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