Rogers Removing System Access Fee? Cheaper iPhone Bill Soon?

By Gary Ng on November 4th, 2008 70

For those that signed up for an iPhone 3G, your bill statement after calculating your monthly plan, data plan, taxes, 911 emergency fee, and the dreaded System Access Fee (SAF) could be close to almost $100 per month. Owning an iPhone 3G can be expensive if you’re on a data plan and subscribed to a value pack. It all adds up right?

Rumor: Rogers to Relaunch Fido Next Week New Plans, but NO SAF!

Well, believe it or not folks but a cheaper iPhone bill could be heading your way. How? It turns out that Rogers is going to relaunch the Fido brand on Tuesday with a new logo and monthly plans, along with the removal of the…get ready…SYSTEM ACCESS FEE! At the same time, Rogers will also remove the fee for its postpaid subscribers as well. If this is indeed confirmed true in the next week, it will mean fantastic news for all monthly cellphone subscribers.

Will Canadians Ever See an End to the System Access Fee?

Could it really be true? Will Canadians get to rejoice in having this long overdue “fee” removed? Currently Rogers, Telus, Bell, MTS AllStream, and SaskTel are all involved in a massive $20 billion dollar class action lawsuit over the so called SAF. From the CBC:

The fee began as a government licensing charge in the 1980s to cellphone providers for using public airwaves. In 1986, the government transferred the collection of the fee to cellphone providers, who were to incorporate them into their monthly charges. Instead, the carriers opted to keep them separate.

So that’s where we are today. As consumers we’ve been paying for a charge that’s supposed to be included in our monthly plans, yet we are the ones that have been footing the bill all these years. I’ve been paying a monthly plan for roughly ten years. Let’s say it’s been 10 years so that’s 120 months. 120 x $6.95 = $834 before taxes! Talk about paying the price to “access” the wireless networks, huh (and some spectacular profits for Rogers)?

If the SAF is indeed eliminated by Rogers, Bell, and Telus, it’s not because they are trying to be nice to us consumers. The fact of the matter is new competitors will soon be entering the cellphone marketplace after the conclusion of this summer’s wireless spectrum auction. Newcomer BMW, recently announced they are going to offer an unlimited talk/text plan for $40 with no additional charges. All I can say is competition is a good thing!

Rogers, as of Dec.31/07 had 7.3 million retail voice and data subscribers. I can only imagine how many of these are on monthly plans, paying $6.95/month to Rogers. If 7 million were on monthly plans, that equates to just under $49 million dollars a month collected in SAF charges! Hmm…maybe I should start a cellphone company and get a piece of the pie!

RogersEmployee from HowardForums Leaks Upcoming Fido iPhone Plans

Here are the following revised Fido iPhone plans that will be coming into effect. Take a gander at what has been changed:

$60 iPhone Plan – 250 Weekday Minutes, Unlimited Evenings and Weekends at 7, Unlimited SMS in Canada, 500MB of Data in Canada, Fido / Rogers Hotspot Access, Visual Voicemail

$75 iPhone Plan – 500 Weekday Minutes, Unlimited Evenings and Weekends at 7, Unlimited SMS in Canada, 1GB of Data in Canada, Fido / Rogers Hotspot Access, Visual Voicemail

Per Second Billing, No device eligibility worries, Minute Tracker auto-added, All customers can sign-up to these plans, call waiting and conference calling included, 35cents / min overage, LD 35cents / min, 15cents per SMS above package, 50cents per MMS, Employee / Ambassador Accounts eligible!

No more charge for Expanded Network. iPhone plans still require 3 year agreement. No SAF/911 charges.

There are a whole wack of other changes as well. You can take a look at these changes by checking out the link to HoFo after the break. What do you think of all this? Eliminate the SAF or keep it?

[CBC,HoFo]

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…SK13 for the 3G PhantomSkin
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Congrats to both for winning! Expect an email soon! Thanks to everyone who entered and look forward to another contest coming up this Saturday!

PS – If you’re American, GO VOTE today!!!

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Quicken

Check out the new Fido website now! New logo is up with a big banner that says “Plans starting at $15 per month with NO SYSTEM ACESS FEE’S”
Quicken

Check out the new Fido website now! New logo is up with a big banner that says “Plans starting at $15 per month with NO SYSTEM ACESS FEE’S”
Quicken

Also, if you look under the “Phones” section and select new customer, All the ones that I saw are price for 2 year contracts instead of 3
Quicken

Also, if you look under the “Phones” section and select new customer, All the ones that I saw are price for 2 year contracts instead of 3
SSK13

Yay I won! Thanks for the skin

This would be great news if they remove the system access fee. Hopefully they take the next step and reduce data plan costs.
SSK13

Yay I won! Thanks for the skin

This would be great news if they remove the system access fee. Hopefully they take the next step and reduce data plan costs.
Tim Aucoin

All iPhone contracts still show a 3 year commitment. Same on Rogers site. It would be sweet to see the $6.95 go away.
..
Have a fantastic Tuesday everyone!
Tim Aucoin

All iPhone contracts still show a 3 year commitment. Same on Rogers site. It would be sweet to see the $6.95 go away.
..
Have a fantastic Tuesday everyone!
romi

I actually work for fido and last night I was at the launch party for q4 and well yeah no more systme access fee or emergency charge….. And majority of the plans include unlimited text
romi

I actually work for fido and last night I was at the launch party for q4 and well yeah no more systme access fee or emergency charge….. And majority of the plans include unlimited text
dannymalt

Is Rogers getting rid of this system access fee as well??
dannymalt

Is Rogers getting rid of this system access fee as well??
X1Zero

However, the iPhone 3G is still requiring a 3-year deal with Fido.
X1Zero

However, the iPhone 3G is still requiring a 3-year deal with Fido.
Paul

The fido page with iPhone plans still show the SAF + 911 fees:

http://fido.ca/web/content/phonepromo/promo_q208_iphone

There is no option to get 15$/month for the iPhone. You have to pay at least 60 + SAF + 911.
Paul

The fido page with iPhone plans still show the SAF + 911 fees:

http://fido.ca/web/content/phonepromo/promo_q208_iphone

There is no option to get 15$/month for the iPhone. You have to pay at least 60 + SAF + 911.
Justin

Does the no system access fee applies to existing customer as well. I hope so. I’ll be very upset if this only applies to new customer.
Justin

Does the no system access fee applies to existing customer as well. I hope so. I’ll be very upset if this only applies to new customer.
Sean Murphy

I can see why you’d be mad, and keep on being mad. Sure the new plans are nice, but they’re still a cellphone company at heart. It’s been my experience that all cell companies really push to get the customers. If you’re an existing customer they won’t care as much.

In short: If you want No-SAF, you have to transfer to one of these new plans, and also while these new plans are rad, they’ve got activation fees of $25 for existing and $35 for new customers respecitvely.

And before everyone get’s all “But we had no access fee before, LAME FIDO”, think about it. THe system access fee was $6.95, over a year that’s $83.40, and the activation fee is only one time
Sean Murphy

I can see why you’d be mad, and keep on being mad. Sure the new plans are nice, but they’re still a cellphone company at heart. It’s been my experience that all cell companies really push to get the customers. If you’re an existing customer they won’t care as much.

In short: If you want No-SAF, you have to transfer to one of these new plans, and also while these new plans are rad, they’ve got activation fees of $25 for existing and $35 for new customers respecitvely.

And before everyone get’s all “But we had no access fee before, LAME FIDO”, think about it. THe system access fee was $6.95, over a year that’s $83.40, and the activation fee is only one time
Rick Lang

Nov 4, 2008: On the rebranded an very ugly Fido website, I am looking at the Fido iPhone 3G monthly plans. The $60 plan and the $75 plan still list the system access fee and the 911 fee. Perhaps if you get a new calling plan, the fees are no longer applicable, but for their recommended bundled plans, the fee appears to apply. There is now an 8GB data plan for $80 but the discontinued 6GB plan for $30 is still a better deal. I see no incentive to switch plans but would appreciate it if my bill no longer included the SAF and 911 fee.
Rick Lang

Nov 4, 2008: On the rebranded an very ugly Fido website, I am looking at the Fido iPhone 3G monthly plans. The $60 plan and the $75 plan still list the system access fee and the 911 fee. Perhaps if you get a new calling plan, the fees are no longer applicable, but for their recommended bundled plans, the fee appears to apply. There is now an 8GB data plan for $80 but the discontinued 6GB plan for $30 is still a better deal. I see no incentive to switch plans but would appreciate it if my bill no longer included the SAF and 911 fee.
Motion

I’ve never heard of anything like this. I work for Rogers and at the very least i would have expected to hear SOMETHING…it would be truly amazing if Rogers followed.
Kuldip

Alas, no SAF
But wtf why they hell did they have to kill the Fido brand?!
I’ve been a long time Fido customer, and having them deface and essentially make it look like a piece of shit brand is really disappointing….
Kuldip

Alas, no SAF
But wtf why they hell did they have to kill the Fido brand?!
I’ve been a long time Fido customer, and having them deface and essentially make it look like a piece of shit brand is really disappointing….
Motion

I’ve never heard of anything like this. I work for Rogers and at the very least i would have expected to hear SOMETHING…it would be truly amazing if Rogers followed.
bc

it seems the rebranding and no-SAF is a move to compete more directly with Koodo (Telus) and the new low-cost carriers coming online next year. i.e. Fido marketed as Rogers’ “discount” brand.

we’ll see whether or not Rogers and Telus follow suit and drop the SAF too. I hope so, but I’m guessing it will remain for a while on the “big” main brands (for as long as they can)…
bc

it seems the rebranding and no-SAF is a move to compete more directly with Koodo (Telus) and the new low-cost carriers coming online next year. i.e. Fido marketed as Rogers’ “discount” brand.

we’ll see whether or not Rogers and Telus follow suit and drop the SAF too. I hope so, but I’m guessing it will remain for a while on the “big” main brands (for as long as they can)…
bc

it seems the rebranding and no-SAF is a move to compete more directly with Koodo (Telus) and the new low-cost carriers coming online next year. i.e. Fido marketed as Rogers’ “discount” brand.

we’ll see whether or not Rogers and Telus follow suit and drop the SAF too. I hope so, but I’m guessing it will remain for a while on the “big” main brands (for as long as they can)…
Justin

So, from what you wrote, existing customer will (whatever plan they have) still have to pay the SAF. That’s UPSETTING!
Justin

So, from what you wrote, existing customer will (whatever plan they have) still have to pay the SAF. That’s UPSETTING!
Justin

So, from what you wrote, existing customer will (whatever plan they have) still have to pay the SAF. That’s UPSETTING!
newbie

All existing customers still pay SAF… if you look at the plans they are much more expensive for less minutes than before. All Fido has done is add the SAF into it’s rates. The rates are much more expensive than what I currently pay including the SAF… what a complete dissappointment.
newbie

All existing customers still pay SAF… if you look at the plans they are much more expensive for less minutes than before. All Fido has done is add the SAF into it’s rates. The rates are much more expensive than what I currently pay including the SAF… what a complete dissappointment.
newbie

All existing customers still pay SAF… if you look at the plans they are much more expensive for less minutes than before. All Fido has done is add the SAF into it’s rates. The rates are much more expensive than what I currently pay including the SAF… what a complete dissappointment.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

You’re welcome! Got your email.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

You’re welcome! Got your email.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

You’re welcome! Got your email.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

I don’t like the new Fido site. The logo looks lame, and very similar to the Koodo line.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

I don’t like the new Fido site. The logo looks lame, and very similar to the Koodo line.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

I don’t like the new Fido site. The logo looks lame, and very similar to the Koodo line.
Brian

I agree iPhone Fan. It looks like it has undergone a serious downgrade, making Fido truly look like a lower company than Rogers. Before, if no one told me, I would not be able to tell Fido was a subsidy of Rogers.
Brian

I agree iPhone Fan. It looks like it has undergone a serious downgrade, making Fido truly look like a lower company than Rogers. Before, if no one told me, I would not be able to tell Fido was a subsidy of Rogers.
Brian

I agree iPhone Fan. It looks like it has undergone a serious downgrade, making Fido truly look like a lower company than Rogers. Before, if no one told me, I would not be able to tell Fido was a subsidy of Rogers.
Justin

The new brand is a SUCCESS on making Fido a cheap no frills, almost no-name brand cheap type of company. Very disappointing that they do these to a brand. So sad…
Justin

The new brand is a SUCCESS on making Fido a cheap no frills, almost no-name brand cheap type of company. Very disappointing that they do these to a brand. So sad…
Justin

The new brand is a SUCCESS on making Fido a cheap no frills, almost no-name brand cheap type of company. Very disappointing that they do these to a brand. So sad…
Andrew D.

Hell yeah…. My wife has been bi$#hing me out since I got this iPhone saying “I thought it was going to be 65.00 plus tax not 97.00 including taxes” so a 6.95 minus tax reduction will be welcome in my house…
Andrew D.

Hell yeah…. My wife has been bi$#hing me out since I got this iPhone saying “I thought it was going to be 65.00 plus tax not 97.00 including taxes” so a 6.95 minus tax reduction will be welcome in my house…
Andrew D.

Hell yeah…. My wife has been bi$#hing me out since I got this iPhone saying “I thought it was going to be 65.00 plus tax not 97.00 including taxes” so a 6.95 minus tax reduction will be welcome in my house…

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