FAQs on cell phone providers for Immigrants
In this post, I will be discussing about major cell phone providers and how to choose the perfect mobile provider as an immigrant or newcomer to Canada.
Three major providers in Canada
There are other famous ones which are subsidiaries of Big three listed above. These are called MVNOs or mobile virtual network operators.
Small providers or MVNOs use the same networks as the Big Three providers. They lease the portion of network and then focus on specific regions.
Here a table that covers information about providers, their subsidiaries and percentage of population they cover in Canada
| Parent company | Brands and subsidiaries | % of Canadian population covered | |
| Rogers Communications | Rogers Wireless, Fido Mobile, Chatr Mobile, Cityfone, Primus Wireless, Zoomer Wireless, SimplyConnect | LTE: 96% HSPA+: 98% GSM: 97% | |
| Telus Corporation | Telus Mobility, Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile | LTE: 97% HSPA+: 98% | |
| Bell Canada Enterprise Inc | Bell Mobility, Virgin Mobile, Lucky Mobile, Bell MTS | LTE: 97% HSPA+: 98% | |
| Shaw Communications | Shaw Mobile, Freedom Mobile | LTE: Parts of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia HSPA+: 98% |
Table reference: http://Table reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_mobile_phone_companies
While most MVNOs might offer similar coverage but could have different plan cost. Also, their terms and conditions might be slightly different. Generally, these small mobile providers will have slightly cheaper plans.
Which provider is best for newcomers?
Being a new immigrant to Canada, choosing a mobile service might be confusing process. I would personally recommend picking a provider from subsidiaries column of table above. Here are some reasons to support my point:
Monthly plan cost: Even though MVNOs same network but monthly cost is mostly cheaper. Rogers plan starts from $80 per month but their subsidiary Fido has a plan starting at $45.
Line approval: Mobile service providers need to do a credit check before a line is approved. Being new to Canada, you might not have a credit history yet. Most of the times big three providers might decline a line for you. Therefore choosing from subsidiaries or get a prepaid plan might be only options.
Network coverage: This is one of the most important aspect. Some cheaper providers might not have good coverage indoors or buildings. Be sure to check network coverage on provider’s website before finalizing the provider. More on network coverage from WhistleOut “Southern Ontario features nearly 100% coverage from the three national networks; Bell, Rogers and Telus. Northern Ontario features spotty service as the population density drops, and service may disappear completely as you travel the Trans-Canada Highway. Both the Bell/Telus cell network and Rogers have dead zones that can leave you without signal in this region. Freedom Mobile has an extensive 3G and 4G LTE network throughout major cities and around the Golden Horseshoe with the roaming on partner networks available anywhere else you find signal.”
Conclusion
Based on my personal experience, it is highly recommended to choose subsidiaries of three major brands. Once you have tested the network, then it might help you to find choose the best and suits your budget from cell phone providers.
