Rogers, Telus and Bell have submitted their proposals to the CRTC regarding lower-cost data-only plans, and they are now available for public comment.
@Bell, @Rogers and @TELUS submitted their proposal regarding lower-cost data-only plans. Tell us what you think about them! Help us better understand your needs for lower-cost #wireless services. https://t.co/dOqGjdfW2G #crtcConsults pic.twitter.com/nDQcF8JvML
— CRTCeng (@CRTCeng) April 25, 2018
Back in March, the CRTC called for cheaper data-only plans from our wireless incumbents, with initial proposals to be submitted by April 23rd. The proposals have now been posted online for public viewing and comment.
We’ve cut through the noise and extracted the plans offered and pricing proposals.
Rogers submitted a five-page document, detailing a proposal for a $25 plan with 400MB of LTE data, available for prepaid and postpaid customers. Their offer is
“The 400 MB bucket will complement this usage when out of Wi-Fi range. This mobile data allotment will enable approximately 1,200 minutes of voice calling, 40,000 text messages, 160 minutes of FaceTime calling, 4,000 emails, or some combination thereof,” explained Rogers.
Telus filed a lengthy 38-page proposal, offering a $30/500MB LTE plan through their flanker brand Koodo. The company also touted its prepaid data-only plans from Public Mobile, which are available at $20/250MB at 3G data speeds or $30/600MB at LTE speeds.
The company said “It is noteworthy that these rates of $20/month and $30/month are equivalent to $0.66/day and $0.99/day respectively, both less than the price of a daily coffee. TELUS also regularly offers promotions throughout the year that reduce the overall cost to the consumer (e.g. bonus data allotments, device discounts, etc.).”
In Bell’s 12-page submission, they proposed a $30/500MB LTE data plan through their flanker brand Virgin Mobile. Bell explained, “The price of our proposed plan is about $7 per week, or the same as a few cups of Tim Horton’s coffee. It is also about 1% of Canada’s Low Income Measure for Canadian Households.”
When we’ve seen $15 plans for 3GB of LTE data from Fido for tablet users, it’s tough to see these proposals for smartphones, offering less data for more money. In terms of price per gigabyte, Rogers’ proposal works out to $62.50 per gigabyte (or $6.25/100MB), while Telus and Bell are at $60 per gigabyte (or $6/100MB).
What do you think about these ‘lower-cost’, data-only plan submissions from Rogers, Telus and Bell?
Update: You can file a comment to the CRTC by clicking here.
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They should be called plans for parents who don’t use data but you want to track them using find my friends plan. I personally can burn through 500mb in an hour just from watching live streams alone.
*i wonder how much data find my friends uses per month.
to give a perspective:
i took a 0.99€/month plan for 1 yr that gives unlimited data 4G in france, 25GB/month in europe in 4G, 25GB/month in 3G in 8 countries outside europe including USA and canada + unlimited call/sms in those country and to france.
so is a 30$ plan for 500MB data per month good?
even if the situation between europe and here are similar, the difference is so big that we are still very far from what they can really do.
the prices in france droped a lot when a 4th competitor entered the business.
my comments on the CRTC site:
These proposed plans from the Big 3 Wireless companies are truly a joke. We here in Canada pay more for services than pretty much anywhere else in the world, and they don’t even shaft us evenly…some Western provinces get great deals from time to time, as well as Ontario…Quebec ALWAYS has better plans available…and those of us in Atlantic Canada pay the highest prices of all, in a region where arguably we have the least disposable income.
Until government intervenes somehow, these companies will continue to mercilessly gouge the areas of the country where they can get away with it, and offer premium deals in areas only where competition forces them to. In my opinion, it borders on criminal.
Did you know also that Canada is bigger than UK, Germany, Japan and Korea. As a matter of fact if I remember my Geography, we are the second largest country in the world. That said, to put towers all across Canada and have few million client, it barely cover any cost of the towers and staff. Unlike Germany or some smaller countries with dense population.
People love that stat…. except 70% of Canadians live in densely populated areas and 90% live within 100 miles of the US border…. it’s not as hard as hard or expensive to nail coverage in the metropolitans and the basic highways as they claim.
I understand exactly where you’re coming from, Lucas…my problem is that if a carrier can charge $56 for unlimited talk and text and 8gb of data in Quebec, then how is it fair or justified that in Nova Scotia, $55 gets you unlimited talk and text and 2gb of data?
If a us company can offer FREE unlimited data and roaming in Canada, why can Canadian companies offer free roaming and data in the us?
Australia has a similar population density as Canada. Have a look at their plans.
Heck, look at Saskatchewan/Quebec/Manitoba plans right here in Canada. These provinces have a legit 4th carrier creating completion.
That is an urban myth, a false argument. In european mountainous countries you need more towers for LOS than anywhere seen in Canada. Population 50-100 times denser conmected to 50mbs internet, faster than our home isp here!! Also the infrastrucure here has been built and paid for 10 times over hence the huge shareholder payout in dividends. Do you understand my paying 6-9 euros for auto renewable 30 gb data if I had a min credit on account??
Not surprised by this joke of a submission. I’m guessing it is negotiation tactics. Low ball and hope to settle for something not too bad…
Let’s hope the CRTC looks out for Canadians on this one and gets a good deal for the consumers.
Lower cost for much lower data. This is a joke
I’m not even surprised anymore. Just pathetic
I pay $60 now for 10 gigs and I also get all the airtime I can handle to go with it, so I’m really not sure what this nonsense is
I paid 6 euros for my first 15 Gb + 15 bonus upon sim activation in Europe. Then 9 euros got me 30 Gb and provided I kept a 7 min euro credit I got 30 go bonus every 45 days. Hence I paid over 6 months some 30 euros for 300 gb data. Higher population.density, speed was actual 50-100mbps (so needed no router ISP) and yet they build towers everywhere as hills and mountains block signal los. So yes I watched 6 months of tv and Netflix on data….came back to Canada it is 3ld world discussing data stone age because we are too nice and are willing to pay what is asked.
LMAO those offerings are disrespectful as hell.
These are not good plans. It does more harm than good to come out with something like this.
Yes. As others have said, these proposals are not just a joke but completely put on full display the contempt and disrespect the carriers have for Canadians.
If these proposals are supposed to be some kind of answer to Canadians after Scott gave Wifi-first MVNOs a hard no, they are not even slightly worth consideration.
Let the gouging continue under the good old boy new chairman of the CRTC.
Yeah what a joke!!!! Nowadays you can’t get by with that much data. They are likely doing that so when you get your bill you have overage charges and then they lock you into a higher plan for 2 years. They are like drug dealers giving you a taste and then once your hooked they screw you. Shame on the carriers in Canada. If you want to impress me then give me unlimited data and charge a flat rate. Crooks!!!
What a joke… Pure greed as normal. What’s awesome, is that data doesn’t cost anything technically. They could all offer unlimited data, and not have an affect on anything. Data caps, are nothing more than a cash grab. Same as speed tiers. It’s all pure greed and cash grab.
Look, I’m willing to agree with anyone else about how the carriers are screwing us over big time here, but I cannot agree with “data doesn’t cost anything technically”.
Given that a (for current practical purposes) finite resource such as radio spectrum is needed to transfer that data (not to mention the increase of costs of backhauling more and more data, etc.) , how do you defend that statement?
Well. Simply put, there have been studied already proving that data transfer or the amount of it bares basically no cost. The cost is the infrastructure itself. Once that is in place, the operational costs are basically the same. If kilobytes of data are transferred over the network or terabytes of information are transferred, the cost of that data transfer is almost identical. This is why originally there were no data caps on anything. Data caps were created for nothing more than to create an influx of cash flow to boost profits. In other regions data caps are slow vanishing. Again once the infrastructure is in place, the physical operational cost does not increase, from the actual transfer of data. The cost to transfer 100mb of data is no more than the transfer of 100s of terabytes of data. For the same reason I have unlimited data,and transfer over 100 terabytes a month but pay less than what they want to charge for 400mb.. anyway, it’s a pointless argument. Data caps are cash grabs, nothing more nothing less.
So there are two things you are ignoring in your argument. First is the cost of the infrastructure that you say carries data for nothing doesn’t cost nothing. It gets amortised over the future of data transferring revenues. Once it’s paid for then yes, data costs just how much the upkeep of the infrastructure costs. But that’s still not free.
The second point you are missing is capacity. The infrastructure only has so much capacity. What happens when the number of people wanting to transfer 100TB per month for their fixed cost exceeds the capacity of the infrastructure to deliver?
Don’t think for a moment that what you are being charged monthly covers your share of that finite (limited in capacity) resource at the rate of 100TB/month.
Bottom line is that data transfer is not free. There is a cost to being able to transfer that data, and always will be. To be sure, it’s nowhere near as much as we are being charged, but it cannot be done for “free”.
Studies show otherwise..
Yes infrastructure is not free etc. However data caps are cash grabs. The providers have even admitted to these facts. Profit margins also speak volumes. Funny how unlimited data is available in other countries for less than most people pay for 1gb of data. Your bill is more than covering operational costs every month. Network congestion has not even become an issue for them yet, as admitted by the company’s themselves. You can argue all you want but it doesn’t change that fact that data caps are not needed and are just cash grabs. Profit margins run around the 90% range for the big 3, before your data cap. So again, actual data cost nothing basically. Once online the amount to of 1’s and 0’s going through the pipelines is irrelevant.
I am not arguing that punitive data caps are not a cash grab. That is a strawman argument to the argument at hand that data transfer is not free.
So you seem to be changing your argument now from “data transfer is free” to “data caps are cash grabs”. If that’s the case, then you won’t get an argument from me on that.
Not changing anything.. while point has been data caps are cash grabs. And self admitted by the company’s themselves. Operational costs are the same, regardless of amount of data transfer over the system. 400mb of data cost the same as 400 terabytes of data. The infrastructure limitations is actually more with speed than amount of data. Congestion may cause slower speeds, but the amount of data has basically no limit, it’s just how fast it can transfer. Anyway.. it’s all irrelevant. They make billions, and we pay way too much. Is what it is..
I’m sure you can provide me links to these “studies” you continue to quote, right?
not defending them, because they suck, but canada has a really small population so reaching economies of scale is higher.
Dude Toronto’s population is larger than many euro locations getting data at 9 euros/30gb!!!
False arguments not true. So my average euro location had 17 million people in 500×600 Km box. Mountains and big hills ensure that far more cell towers (2 to 5 times more) are needed to reach these people than anywhere in Canada. Internet data speeds were faster than my best ISP in Canada (50-100 mbs) including at festivals with 1 million people in 2 sq km. I paid about 30 euros for 300 go data and Netflix over 6 months. In Europe. The Canadian infrastructure is built paid for slower and simply gauging you for being willing to rationalize with untrue unfactual points.
Why not fill the crtc consult? It actually makes a difference.
I agree.
This is much like the unlocking fees they got away with for years. $50 and they would punch in a code that takes mere seconds to unlock.
They raked in over 37 million in unlocking fees in 2016 the last year they could legally charge them.
Those were widely known as “ransom fees” or “hostage fees” at the time.
Have you filled the crtc feedback? I do it for each studios proposal. Hurts these guys.
Absolute garbage and insulting.
Truly a joke. More proof that telecom in Canada is all about maximizing the bottom line with little regard for customers. All you need to do is look at all the complaints registered, and the federal government turns a blind eye
Have you filled the crtc feedback? I do it for each studios proposal. Hurts these companies actually.
Sasktel already has a tablet data only plan which my phone is on for $15/mo for 1gb/mo. Voice services still work for 50c/min.
Its time to go forward and roll out unlimited data plans. Not roll back in to dark ages. $$$$$$ GREED $$$$$$
That’s what happens when Rogers guys get 1 million a year or 2 million a year prices go up that’s why all this Rogers soup take a cut too why we always have to pay for there pay rases
Overage rates for data are already $7 for every 100mb in ontario , they essentialy are saving you 75 cents for every 100mb without GSM calling . What a joke
I currently pay $7.50 plus tax for 3gb of LTE – data only which is great..HOWEVER, I know people who have got this down to $0 for a year…so that’s my new goal. 🙂
Do say ???
Share your secret…
The headline might as well say “Rogers, Telus and Bell got together to develop some data-only plans for the CRTC”.
Always a rip off. Why not a 100 mb plan for $15. Send a couple pictures and then wait till next month.
What a joke!
Also, regarding the big conversation below about Unlimited Data and all that. Charging for data caps makes sense because it’s not fair for someone who uses almost no data to pay the same as someone who uses way more… the people that use more slows it down for the people that use less.
The issue IMO right now is the price per Gig… and what the minimum allowable data is, and it’s related price.
I also think a more crucial issue is data overages… With Freedom, if you go over your data plan, your speed gets slowed to a crawl unless you guy more. (Reasonable).
If you get a Roam Mobility plan and go down to the States, the same is true, if you go over, it just slows down.
That should be the standard practise in Canada. If the incumbents threaten to raise prices to counteract the lost revenue, so be it, Freedom’s already doing it, and they’d LOVE it if they raise their prices.
Speed isn’t what is being throttled here, total usage is. If their infrastructure can’t support every customer using the service as advertised in the same instant that is a carrier issue, not a consumer issue.
data amount per package is irrelevant. Its the amount of data transferred at the same time that is important and dependent on the infrastructure everyone connects to.
The figures they come up with for only 400MB is an absolute joke, is the CRTC that dumb to believe this hogwash! For $25 it should be at least 2.5gb and that’s the bare minimum. You can’t even do much with this amount of data these days. I am truly embarrassed to talk about wireless plans in Canada. We are at risk of becoming the most clueless country in the western world if we are not already on wireless pricing!
I am in the U. S right now. I have a plan with Tracfone . I pay $10 for 1 Gb of data.
$25/400MB is lower cost?
Cost isn’t really a concern. It’s the data caps.
$5/GB is fair, like Fido $15 3gb
If it was $25 5gb, then it would be worthwhile
I paid 6 euros for the first 15 gb plan then had 9 euro auto renewing 30 gb plans (for free) if a min credit on account. 300 gb cost me 30 Euros as I watched Netflix etc. That was 6 months travelling in the lesser connected euro countries that need far more towers due to mountains blocking line of sight.
Fido currently offers 3GB data for $15/month on their tablet plan. How is 400MB for $25 a deal?
In other news, sandwich shops at the airport have reduced the price of a sandwich by $0.35 to $13.50.
Do they want the government to step in with more regulation? Because this will help make that happen.
What a joke and its not even April 1st
These are terrible ! My goodness you might as well go to Sugar Mobile ! I have a loyalty plan of 30 $ for unlimited calling and texting nationwide. I’d rather deal with Wi-Fi then having to hold off on phone calls and texts just because the company is not proposing that texts will not be included. As one professor from the University of Waterloo had pointed out SMS, not MMS, has literally no real cost for the carrier in place as the infrastructure has already been paid for. Data has no reason to be this costly. Unless if carriers could back up their demands with costs and differentiating to us net and gross profit ; I feel like it is a huge lose-lose and that we are not getting anything out of these « deals »
Yes all infrastructure- slow compared to Europe and Asia- already paid for. It is called gauging- they charge you for being willing to pay that high sum. Canadian are nice, hein? Europeans refuse to pay 6% of median household income on 3-4 cell plans. The moment I came back from my euro year I could never pay retail data prices. If all of us go on no contract and refuse paying just one cycle, we win.
still a scam 500mb is a joke and so are the plans. Everybody will be hit with a 10.00 500mb overage charge as the average user is at 1.5gb per month. a gb costs about 0.50 wholesale. Freedom albeit with limited coverage cell has 10gb unlimited calling within canada for 50.00 So before the big three start patting themselves on the back the CRTC should tell all three to SUCK IT, come up with a 2gb with unltd calling for 30.00
What a joke.
This is absolutely ridiculous? 400 MB for $25? Wow they really are gouging us so badly and we taking it too! in $25 I can get 100GB in certain countries, WITH TWICE AS FAST LTE/4G Coverage
It is an utter bad scam. The first accidental email data sync will eat much of it. In eastern Europe where I lived 6 months in 2017, 9 euros bought 30gb 45 day data RENEWABLE if keeping credit above 6-7 euros. And what data, at 50mbps was faster than any Bell Fibe ISP plan I had at home in Canada!! Used 300gbs in 6 months and it cost me 80euros? So the Canadian wireless data scam is a farce because NO REASONABLE OR CAUTIOUS use of any modern phone can live on that amount. Friends send you pics a 10 seconds movie paf data gone and now x10 cost over cap. It is a farcical fraud being in a 1st world country with 3ld world wireless plans and pricing options. Worse, same Canadian infrastructure but twice the data cost if an ontarien vs Quebec. Why? Because of cartel practices as géo area code does not result in higher infrastructure costs to either bell or Rogers. Quite he contrary you get 1/2 cost in Chicoutimi !!!
It is an utter bad scam. 50-60$ per Gb???? The first accidental email data sync will eat much of it. In eastern Europe where I lived 6 months in 2017, 9 euros bought 30gb 45 day data Auto RENEWABLE if keeping credit above 6-7 euros. And what data, at 50mbps was faster than any Bell Fibe ISP plan I had at home in Canada!! Used 300gbs in 6 months and it cost me 80euros? So the Canadian wireless data scam is a farce because NO REASONABLE OR CAUTIOUS use of any modern phone can live on that amount. Friends send you pics a 10 seconds movie paf data gone and now x10 cost over cap. It is a farcical fraud being in a 1st world country with 3ld world wireless plans and pricing options. Worse, same Canadian infrastructure but twice the data cost if an ontarien vs Quebec. Why? Because of cartel practices as géo area code does not result in higher infrastructure costs to either bell or Rogers. Quite he contrary you get 1/2 cost in Chicoutimi which is far more isolate than anything in S Ontario!!! So at 2000-3000$ household wireless plans for an income of 50.000$ CAD, 6% oh household is utter madness attacking Canadian middle class.
400 MB was a good deal may be 15 years ago, before smart phones arrived. They want to sell today phones with 15 year old plans… Nowhere in the developed world you can see this, only in Canada.
What a JOKE !! It made me choke.
3 GB for 15$ was already on the table. It has a 10$ / GB overage rate.
I can’t stop laughing, PEOPLE need to demand more and speak up!
We need UNLIMITED data plans at $10 a month unless it is part of a bundle plan. True joke by the big telecos.
A real joke. Fido has $15/3GB data only plan!
The problem is that that is not a “plan”. That is an “addon” to an existing, expensive plan. You have to be an existing post-paid customer, paying for a text+voice (at least) plan already to qualify for the $15/3GB data only “tablet plan”.
Yes, I understand people have been able to obtain that plan without having an existing postpaid plan, but the success of that is spotty and will always be subject to cancellation if Fido ever decides to audit all of those subscribers.
Go flood their website of comments, this is a joke. Can’t do nothing with 500mb nowadays, plans under 2GB shouldn’t exist, those that take these plans don’t use their data. Often elderly people and etc. https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/instances-proceedings/Default-Defaut.aspx?lang=eng&YA=2018&S=O&PA=t&PT=nc&PST=a#2018-98
DO SOMETHING !!!!
File your opinion with the CRTC. Call your MP !!
Make your voice heard.
p.s. did you know you can actually call anywhere in Canada and have World Text for FREE!! over data…
TELECO’s won’t tell you that!
30$ should be unlimited data
Where’s the link to the CRTC?
https://t.co/dOqGjdfW2G
updated article as well
Hi! I’m currently in China for work and I just activated a new prepaid SIM Card with the following plan:
– Infinite Internet. First 20 Gig at 4G (meaning LTE). From 21 Gig and further, the speed drops at 3G or 2G. BUT you can always use your data indefinitely during the month. And this is nationwide, all accross China. None of the Canadian carriers offer 20 Gig of data in a month…
– 300 minutes of calling nationwide per month. But everyone use Wechat in China (same as Whatsapp and Messenger). So everyone uses their data to call. So you get virtually infinite minutes as well…
And now…fasten your seatbelt for the price…100 yuans = 20$. Tax and service included. I just have to put 20 bucks in my account each month to have an incredible value for my money.
So Bell/Telus and Rogers, you are indeed taking your costumers for the biggest idiots in the world with your plans…