1. Canada
  2. Canada Guide
  3. Telephone & Internet
  4. Cell phones

Cell phones

Canadian mobile phone operators

Services

Canada - Telephone & Internet

Cell phones

There are two different systems for mobile phones in Canada; CDMA and GSM, and they operate in the 800, 850 and 1900 MHz frequency range. That said, if you bring your foreign phone into Canada, it might not work in the Canadian Network.

The wireless/cell phone provider available in your area may depend on who has a license in the province where you live.

The following is a list of the largest mobile carriers in Canada:

Bell Mobility: Ontario & Quebec (CDMA)

Rogers / Fido-Microcell: Ontario & Quebec (GSM)

Telus Mobility: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec (CDMA)

Virgin Mobile: Ontario (CDMA-PCS)

Sprint Canada: Ontario, Quebec (GSM or CDMA depending on the region)

Aliant: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Newfoundland & Labrador (CDMA)

SaskTel: Saskatchewan (CDMA)

Mobile phones from abroad

If you come from Europe and want to keep your phone in Canada, you may need to go with the only GSM operators in the country, but still need to verify the following:

  • The frequency of your phone
  • Whether or not your phone is unlocked to receive a new SIM card.

If your phone is of a different frequency, chances are it will not be of much use in Canada. Unlike in Europe, it is quite hard to find places to unlock phones to enable them working with another operator, so consider getting this done in your home country. If you are lucky and your European phone is unlocked and can read the Canadian frequencies, you can buy a SIM card from Rogers, Fido and Sprint Canada for about CAD $20 and you will be set to go. Note that SIM cards usually come empty and you will have to refill them with a prepaid card or get a monthly service that will enable you to use it.

Prices on new phones differ greatly depending on the retailer and the mobile operator. Prices are usually the same whether or not you buy it through each operator’s outlet or at a retail store.

Services

Further reading

Does this article help?

Do you have any comments, updates or questions on this topic? Ask them here:

Other comments

  • Thomas, 03 June 2008 Reply

    Sim cards on ebay

    i usually buy fido sim cards on ebay when i am in Canada. You can get them for 12-30 CAD and the come with 45-80 CAD worth of airtime. Once the card is empty i buy a new one. You can also ask the ebay sellers for a better deal if you buy more sim cards.

    • CTW 31 Aug 2009, 10:30

      45-80CAD sim cards for 12-30CAD

      If you can buy cut-rate sim cards on eBay, you are likely buying forged or pirate cards. Be very careful.