List of mobile operators in Canada
The Big Three cellular operators in Canada are Rogers, Bell and Telus. Approximately 89% of mobile phone users in Canada are subscribed to one of these carriers or one of their subsidiary brands. As of December 2019, there were over 33.2 million wireless subscribers in Canada, of which Rogers had 10.8 million subscribers, Bell 9.9 million and Telus 8.7 million.
Other big players include Freedom Mobile (1.7 million subscribers in major Canadian cities), SaskTel (600,000 in Saskatchewan) and Quebecor (1.3 million in Quebec and Ottawa).
Canadian mobile operators and their subsidiaries
| Parent Company | Brands and subsidiaries | Coverage across Canada |
|---|---|---|
| BCE Inc. | Bell Mobility, Lucky Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Bell MTS | LTE: 97%, HSPA+: 98% |
| Rogers Communications | Rogers Wireless, Chatr Mobile, Fido Mobile, Cityfone, Primus Wireless, SimplyConnect, Zoomer Wireless | LTE: 96%, HSPA+: 98%, GSM: 97% |
| Telus Corporation | Telus Mobility, Koodo Mobile, Public Mobile | LTE: 97%, HSPA+: 98% |
| Eastlink | Eastlink Wireless | Atlantic Canada and Northeastern Ontario |
| Shaw Communications | Freedom Mobile | LTE: Toronto, Ottawa, London, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, HSPA+: 98% |
| Iristel | Ice Wireless | Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon |
| Keewaytinook Okimakanak | K-Net Mobile | Northern Ontario |
| SaskTel | SaskTel Mobility | LTE/ HSPA+ (Saskatchewan): 99% |
| Sogeta | Sogeta | Quebec |
| SSi Micro | SSi Mobile/Qiniq | Northwest Territories, Nunavut |
| Tbaytel | Tbaytel | Northwestern Ontario |
| TNW Networks | TNW Wireless | Northwestern British Columbia and Yukon |
| Quebecor | Videotron Mobile, Fizz Mobile | Québec and Ottawa |
| Xplornet | Xplore Mobile | Rural areas in all provinces |
All mobile operators in Canada
Below is a list of all mobile operators, sorted by the network they use. Basic operators are highlighted in bold .
| insult | Network | Type | SIM Card | Coverage | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Mobility | Bell | Operator | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Lucky Mobile | Bell | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Virgin Mobile | Bell | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Bell MTS | Bell | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Execulink Mobility | Bell | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| PC Mobile | Bell | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| Rogers Wireless | Rogers | Operator | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Chatr Mobile | Rogers | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Cityfone | Rogers | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Fido Mobile | Rogers | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| Primus Wireless | Rogers | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| SimplyConnect | Rogers | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| Zoomer Wireless | Rogers | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless | Rogers | MVNO | Link | Map | Contact |
| good2go Mobile Canada | Rogers | MVNO | Find a Store | ||
| Petro-Canada Mobility | Rogers | MVNO | Map | Find a Store | |
| Telus Mobility | Telus | Operator | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Koodo Mobile | Telus | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Public Mobile | Telus | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| DCI Wireless | Telus | MVNO | Map | Contact | |
| Freedom Mobile | Freedom Mobile | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| Eastlink Wireless | Eastlink | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| SaskTel Mobility | Sasktel | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| Videotron Mobile | Videotron/Rogers | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| Fizz Mobile | Videotron/Rogers | MVNO | Link | Map | Find a Store |
| Ice Wireless | Iristel | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| K-Net Mobile | Keewaytinook Okimakanak | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| Sogetel Mobility | Sogeta | Operator | Find a Store | ||
| SSi Mobile/Qiniq | SSi Micro | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| TbayTel Mobility | Tbaytel | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| TNW Wireless | TNW Networks | Operator | Map | Find a Store | |
| Xplore Mobile | Xplornet | Operator | Map | Find a Store |
What is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO)?
An MVNO is a wireless service provider that does not own the underlying infrastructure used to provide service to its customers. It contracts with network operators such as Rogers, Bell or Telus to buy wholesale network service at wholesale prices and then resells that access to customers in the service area with their own plans, prices and customer service. In contrast, network operators own, operate, and maintain the equipment, facilities, and wireless spectrum rights necessary to provide cellular services to customers.
Regional providers own and operate their own transmission equipment and facilities, but rely on partnerships with major service providers to connect their customers when they are outside their service area.
Regulation of mobile communications in Canada
All service providers in Canada are regulated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)