Telecom Pricing in Canada: A Closer Look
A recent study by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), commissioned by a coalition of Canadian telecom companies, has sparked discussions about the state of mobile pricing in Canada. The report claims that prices have plummeted by 65% since 2020, a statement that has been previously presented to the CRTC and has influenced how wireless pricing is monitored.
This research was initiated by the Canadian Telecommunications Association (CTA), which includes major players like Nokia and Ericsson. While PWC conducted the analysis independently, some aspects seem to have been omitted to present a more favorable view of these carriers. Notably absent from this report are details on roaming charges and recent moves by the CRTC aimed at boosting competition.
If you believe you've seen your phone bill drop significantly since 2020, I'd love to hear your story in the comments! Personally, I used to pay around $50 for just 10GB back then; now I'm getting about $50 for 40GB along with U.S. roaming included. So while it seems like prices per gigabyte are decreasing, my overall monthly payment hasn't changed much.
Are Prices Really Lowering?
The report states that Canadians pay an average of $28 monthly for a 10GB plan; however, this figure may not reflect what most people actually spend. It appears they averaged costs across various plans rather than focusing on typical consumer choices.
When examining offerings from Canada's three largest carriers and their sub-brands, I found Public Mobile's cheapest plan at $30 for 10GB. Interestingly enough, Lucky Mobile offers a better deal with its 15GB plan priced at just $29-yet many Canadians remain unaware of these options or their ownership ties to Telus and Bell.
While Lucky Mobile's app boasts around half a million downloads compared to Bell's over ten million downloads, this disparity highlights how much more recognized main brands are compared to their lesser-known counterparts.
The standard plans available directly through Bell, Rogers, and Telus typically start around $60 for approximately 120GB of data-a decent offer but still lacking cheaper alternatives. Many consumers outside tech circles don't understand how flanker brands operate; thus they often stick with well-known names among the big three providers.
These plans all belong technically under Bell's umbrella but vary widely based on where you purchase them from regarding speed and price.
This situation reflects broader issues surrounding consumer awareness when selecting phone plans as well as marketing strategies employed by telecoms themselves. For instance, my mom uses only about 2GB each month but initially only considered options from Bell or Rogers when she upgraded her phone two years ago. After convincing her that Fido would be suitable due its connection via Rogers' network-and despite initial hesitations-she's been satisfied ever since yet still forgets which carrier she switched to!
Finding Solutions
The PWC report indicates that an average Canadian consumes roughly nine gigabytes per month-so why aren't there more affordable plans offering between ten and fifteen gigabytes priced below thirty dollars? This gap suggests room for improvement in aligning offerings with actual usage patterns among consumers across Canada.
A critical number often overlooked is Average Revenue Per User (ARPU). In examining ARPU figures reported over time-from approximately $66.70 in a CRTC study back in 2020 to $70.23 today-it becomes clear that overall telecom pricing remains relatively stable despite claims suggesting otherwise regarding significant reductions over recent years.
The latest reports show major players like Bell, Rogers, and Telus‘ most recent financial statements indicate wireless ARPUs hovering around fifty-eight dollars throughout twenty-fourteen-with no signs pointing towards any drastic decreases occurring anytime soon!....
A Broader Perspective on Telecom Regulations
Diving deeper into this PWC analysis reveals potential motivations behind it-telecom companies appear eager capitalize upon current economic uncertainties while advocating against regulations similar those seen within Europe favoring lower prices alongside substantial consumer benefits instead pushing towards less oversight akin what exists within United States markets today.
This sentiment resonates throughout sections discussing regulatory environments abroad without acknowledging positives associated European frameworks such as reduced costs experienced there! ((((()</></></></></>)
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*Image source:* Shutterstock.
*Source:* [PWC / Canadian Telecoms](https://canadatelecoms.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Enabling-Canadas-Economic-Independence-and-Global-Competitiveness-Through-Telecommunications.pdf).
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